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My favorite spring fashion trend is saddle bag purses. I love their hippie, yet practical vibe. I’m searching for the perfect saddle bag purse to bring with me on my various work trips this summer. The reason I love saddle bag purses is because the cross-body.

The idea for this store came about after attending a boutique opening in Phoenix a couple weeks ago. Initially, I planned to talk only about clothing boutique. After visiting a few Phoenix boutiques, I realized a lot of them carried things besides just clothing. I decided to extend my list to share what I believe are the four best boutiques in Phoenix.

You know when you see a dress at the store and you’re like, this totally won’t work on me, but you try it on anyway? That’s how I felt about this pink sheath dress I found on ultra-clearance the other day. The color was quite bright, almost neon, and the shape seemed a bit too straight for my curvy body.

We celebrated my hubby’s birthday last weekend. For his birthday cake, I decided to make his favorite thing — cookies — but with a twist. I decided to make him a funfetti skillet cookie, which turned into a deep-dish sugar cookie with all the colorful sprinkles.

I really like when my nails are painted, but I hardly ever have time to go to a nail salon for a proper manicure. I wanted a fun manicure for spring, so I created this simple triangle nail art tutorial.

Today is the first day of spring! This time of year, I always feel this itch to give my house a deep clean. So I’m sharing 8 simple spring cleaning tips to help you get your house in top shape fast.

Ever wonder how to dress for casual Fridays? It is a balancing act because you want to break out your jeans, but you also need to make sure you aren’t too casual.

Are you ready for Easter? I’m not. I just realized this past weekend that I need to get organized! I haven’t even started thinking what Gigi’s going to wear. So, I’m on the hunt for toddler girls spring dresses, preferably under $25.

I haven’t used self-tanners in over a decade, but when JERGENS® invited me to try out their line of products, I jumped at the chance to get the best sunless tan. It’s already shorts weather here in Phoenix and I’m tired of having ultra pale legs. Using sunless tanner seemed like a good way to get a little color without causing any skin damage.

Last weekend we attended a Phoenix hot air balloon festival, the Out West Balloon Fest, in Glendale Arizona. I have never seen hot air balloons close-up, so we thought this would be a fun, family and kid friendly event, and a nice way to spend a Sunday morning.

Have you watched HBO’s Vinyl yet? I’ve only watched it a couple times and it’s already taken me back to a 70s frame of mind. I’m sure you’ve noticed the fringe style so popular in the 70s is back in a big way, and for spring 2016, we are seeing 70s inspired sunglasses everywhere.

I’m really excited my kids are old enough to start understanding holidays. We did a little Easter egg hunt last year, but Gigi was still so young, she just sat on the grass and ate the snacks inside one of the eggs. This year, I’m planning to test out some Easter craft ideas for kids and maybe even try dying eggs, along with another backyard Easter egg hunt.

There’s this vegetarian restaurant in Phoenix that makes the best Thai peanut tofu dish that I order nearly every time I go there. I love their tofu because it has a crispy exterior and it is just the perfect fried tofu texture. Their peanut sauce is a hint spicy, and works so well with the crunchy veggies.

Spring has officially arrived in Phoenix, so I’m breaking out dresses and sandals already. I love floral prints for spring because they are a bright and cheery departure from the darker colors and heavier materials I wear in winter. When I saw this floral flounce dress from LOFT, I knew it had to be part of my spring wardrobe.

A great womens leather jacket is one of the smartest investments you can make in your wardrobe. It’s not trendy, seasonal, or something you wear once and forget. It’s the layer you reach for again and again.

Have you noticed lace up sandals popping up all over fashion for spring? It seems the lace up trend is here to stay.

For my daughter’s birthday this year, we threw a zoo-themed birthday party. Her love of animals and trips to the zoo made it an obvious choice. I decided to try my hand at cake decorating, so I created zoo animal cupcakes — zebras, lions and tigers — to celebrate her big day.

The Dior “So Real” brow bar sunglasses have been the most coveted shades for the past year. They are so popular, they have an entire Vogue story dedicated to them. I think they are really cool, but they are so stylized, I have a feeling they won’t be cool for that long.

I’ve been blogging about midi skirts for a couple years now. I love how feminine and pretty midi skirts look, so it was surprising to me that I didn’t already own one. This navy floral midi dress is actually the first piece I’ve purchased with the flattering mid-calf midi length.

Silk invited me to create a recipe to pair with their new Nutchello drinks, which are dairy, soy and gluten free. I decided vegan strawberry scones made with coconut milk would be the perfect afternoon snack pairing with the new Toasted Coconut & Cashew Nutchello.

Gigi loves animals. She consistently asks us to read her the same animal book over and over. When we were deciding on a theme for her 2nd birthday, it was a pretty easy decision to choose a zoo birthday party as the theme.

It may sound silly, but one of the reasons I was most excited to move back to Arizona is because Phoenix has some really great resale and consignment stores. This week’s outfit post is a perfect example of the best resale shops in Phoenix. Almost my entire look for the Gala I attended this past weekend came from resale and consignment shops.

I’m so excited to team up with Robin of Bittersweets New York to give away a famous personalized ring to one lucky reader. There are three ways to enter; check out the Rafflecopter details below!

My baby girl just turned two (more on that next week!) and Rocco is already three. I can’t believe I’ve been a parent for three years already! There are times when I miss my life before kids, but most times, I can’t imagine my life without them. Parenting taught me many things, and I’ve learned a lot about myself in the process.

February 14th is right around the corner so I came up with this quick and easy Valentine’s Day manicure I could do at home.

The Super Bowl is less than a week away. We aren’t going to a party this year, since it’s a school night, but I plan to create a few fun recipes to celebrate the big game. For inspiration, I pulled together 12 party appetizers that are bite-size and perfect to bring to or serve at a Super Bowl party.

I’ve owned this red asymmetrical jacket for several years. It rotates in and out of my closet every few months. I literally move it into a storage closet when I get tired of it, and then a few seasons later, I’ll grab it to add to my current wardrobe. I only get tired of it because it has such a specific style, I can’t wear it too often.

“Mommy, my legs hurt,” Rocco whined. It was a Monday evening after the long holiday break away from school. I didn’t think much of it, until he continued to complain throughout the evening, and woke up crying, complaining of leg pain, several times in the middle of the night. Since I was awake anyway, I Google searched “toddler leg pain” and was bombarded with articles about toddler growing pains.

Today is National Peanut Butter Day! To celebrate, I adapted a peanut butter balls recipe to create chocolate covered peanut butter hearts.

Wide brimmed wool hats are the must-wear fashion accessory for winter. Even the Wall Street Journal says they have replaces scarves as the accessory of the moment. I like wearing fedoras in the warmer months, so this winter I decided to try out my first wool fedora.

Today is National Cheese Lover’s Day! I love cheese, so I felt compelled to create a cheese-based recipe. So, I had left-over puff pastry from this baked brie recipe and mascarpone from the holidays. After a quick Googling, I came up with this puff pastry and mascarpone cheese danish recipe.

I try to keep an eye on fashion trends, and one easy way I stay updated is knowing the new 2016 Pantone color of the year. For 2016, there are two colors: Rose Quartz and Serenity. The blush pink and the periwinkle blue are quite a departure from the 2015 Marsala color.

I can’t believe my baby girl is turning two next month! Time really does fly by. I’m still deciding what theme to try for her second birthday, so I’ve been searching all over for girl birthday party ideas.

In live in Phoenix, which means there are few days each year when I actually need a winter coat. The mornings can be a bit chilly though, so I opt to wear leather jackets or lighter-weight fall coats. I was pretty excited to find this pink car coat at a great price.

I’m always on the hunt for snack ideas for my kids, especially ones that aren’t overly processed. I’ve only made homemade granola bars one other time (these pumpkin spice ones) and they turned out pretty well. For the second time around, I searched for recipes for no bake granola bars to keep it even simpler.

The lace up neckline has been popping up all over my social media lately. It seems like every fashion blogger and model is rocking a lace up neckline. To be honest, I’ve been on the fence about this trend. I really don’t like when the neckline is too low and other times, the look skews a little too hippy for me.

I’m really looking forward to 2016 and my 36th year on this planet (my birthday is this week). The next 360-ish days will definitely include a lot of travel, thanks to my awesome day job. I also look forward to the end of diapers! Rocco learned to potty train in 2015, and I am sure Gigi will be quick behind him this year.

Are you ready for some football, or at least, some football tailgating or homegating? I’m from Green Bay, Wisconsin, so let’s just say I’m very familiar with football and cheese. I figured out that this Baked Brie with Fig Jam recipe is a great way to enjoy both! Here’s the story.

This is the second full year of Posh In Progress, which I started as a way of documenting my favorite things while maintaining my sense of self in the midst of being a new mom. This year, I’ve had a lot of fun sharing some of my favorite fashion and beauty trends.

I started Posh In Progress about 8 months after my first child, Rocco, was born. I told my husband I wanted to maintain my sense of self, and blogging was a way for me to express myself outside of the daily tasks of motherhood.

As I reflect on 2015, I realize it has been a year of a lot of transitions. We moved back to Phoenix and slowly settled back into our lives here. I reconnected with friends and former colleagues. We explored some of the fun things to do around the valley with toddlers and visited some of the great nature Arizona has to offer.

My mom posted this cute DIY handprint Christmas ornament on her Facebook page and I thought it seemed like a really fun activity to do with the kids. So last weekend, we set out to try this DIY baking soda clay to create handprint ornaments the kids could hang on our tree. I used this recipe as the basis for my baking soda clay DIY Christmas ornaments.

If you had asked me a year ago if I would ever own a Christmas sweater, I’m pretty sure my answer would have been no. But all of a sudden, these not so ugly Christmas sweaters are everywhere, and I like them! I’m thinking the ugly sweater parties have infiltrated the fashion industry so much that these ugly(ish) sweaters are cool again.

Our living room was in desperate need of a redo. When Minted contacted me to see if I wanted to select some of their original artwork, I was pretty excited to see what they had to offer. I also immediately thought it seemed like the perfect time to create a DIY gallery wall tutorial.

I’ve had these mini marshmallows in my pantry for at least 6 months. For some reason, anytime I have a bunch of random ingredients like that, I feel compelled to create something. Mostly, because it seems wasteful not to use them before they get all stale.

Finding cool gifts for my husband is usually my biggest Christmas shopping challenge. I tend to give him sweaters or other clothes, which is just so boring. To find some inspiration, I searched all over to find unique gifts for men under $50. The list I developed has a wide range of options including things for outdoorsy, handy, or techy guys. When I showed it to my husband, he got really excited about the mini – drone.

I love wearing dresses, especially cocktail dresses. Unfortunately, my busy work and family life very rarely call for dressing up. When I saw this black lace party dress, I instantly knew it was something I needed in my closet.

I love the holidays for many reasons — spending time with family, decorating our tree, finding the perfect gifts for my loved-ones — but one of my absolutely favorite parts is finding and trying new Christmas cookie recipes.

I love December—full of holiday baking, parties and decorating. I also love the opportunity to buy a flirty and feminine holiday dress for Christmas parties or New Years Eve. At the same time, I try to find reasonably priced party dresses because I hate spending a ton on something I’ll probably only wear once or twice. Plus, most of us need to watch our budgets during the holidays with all the added expenses with buying gifts and traveling to spend time with family.

During the holidays, I always search for Italian-inspired recipes to try, as a way to connect to my heritage. Last year, it was Italian wedding cookies and Florentine lace cookies. This year, it’s homemade chocolate peppermint biscotti.

I love wearing gem tones because they work really well on my olivey complexion. When I saw this top, I was excited to try it on because I really love lace, and I liked how the lack mock neck top had the scalloped detail around the neckline.

Over-the-knee boots—trashy or trendy? Honestly, my first thought when I saw these were on trend for fall was, pretty woman.

How this Green Bay, Wisconsin girl came to make Sock It To Me Cake from scratch is a bit of an interesting story. Jade and I were chatting about recipes that remind us of the holidays. He mentioned how Sock It To Me cake became a holiday tradition for his family because his mother loved it so much, his family often made it for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other special occasions. They even left it out for Santa one year!

Have you noticed neoprene and scuba clothes everywhere the past few seasons? I personally love these pieces because of the architectural nature of the stiffer fabric. I recently found this scuba biker jacket (on sale!) and chose it for a couple reasons.

Whenever I’m looking for interesting recipes, I always turn to Pinterest for inspiration. The other day, I pinned these pumpkin donut muffins and got pretty excited — the taste of a donut without the grease of frying and not having to buy a special pan to bake donuts. Awesome.

Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away. I can’t believe it. As most of us are planning what we’re going to cook or bring to your family’s dinner, it’s about time you think about what to wear on Thanksgiving.

How many of you purposely leave the house with deodorant stains on your shirt…with your dress tucked into your tights…with toilet paper stuck to your shoes?

For me, Thanksgiving dinner is really about the sides. The turkey gets all the hype, but I could not care less about the bird (even though my hubby has a magical ability to make it really tasty). I’m a side dish gal all the way. As a kid, I would fill my plate with mashed potatoes (extra butter) and the fresh from the oven, still warm, dinner rolls. Yes, quite the healthy dinner plate.

Vests have remained one of my favorite trends since last fall, when I first featured them. I love vests because they make great transition pieces for cooler weather, without the bulk of a winter coat. In Phoenix, I rarely need to wear anything heavier than a fall jacket.

My mom came to visit last week so she could spend Halloween with my kiddos. Just two weeks before she came, our friends at Toyota asked if we wanted to try out the 2016 4Runner. It couldn’t have been better timing, as it is pretty tough to fit five people comfortably in our Camry, with the two car seats in there. Having the 4Runner for a long holiday weekend was perfect because we had more space for the five of us to cruise around Phoenix.

I generally don’t advocate for buying inexpensive footwear because I believe shoes (and purses) should be quality investment pieces that will last you for years. But there are exceptions to my rule. The exceptions are 1) you can’t afford the quality pair you are eyeing, but you still want a cute new item for fall; 2) you want to try out a new trend, but don’t want to pay too much because you aren’t sure you’ll wear it or think the style might only be cool this season.

My husband and I don’t eat very much candy. Our kids don’t eat much candy either — not just because we limit it, but mostly because they don’t like it. Crazy, right? This lack of candy-eating means that trick-or-treating yields a ton of leftover Halloween candy that we don’t really want around the house.

Every girl deserves to indulge in spa body treatments, massages or facials every now and then. If you’re a busy mom like me, you totally understand how precious (and difficult) it is to get some alone time.

Making DIY Halloween costumes is a for our family. In mid-September, my hubby and I started brainstorming ideas of what the kids should be for Halloween this year. Since Gigi is old enough to walk on her own this year (I carried her in the Bjorn last year), we immediately began thinking about ‘couples’ costume ideas — in the sense of having two children, close in age, of both sexes (in case you’re looking for couples costume ideas). We finally settled on a homemade lion costume for my son and a Dorothy costume for daughter.

When October rolls around, I’m so ready for fall and all the flavors fall brings — especially all the pumpkin spice recipes I can find. I like me some pumpkin. I’ve shared my favorite pumpkin spice cookies, pumpkin nutella bars, pumpkin scones and pumpkin pancakes before, but I’m always on the hunt for different pumpkin spice recipes.

I feel bad. I feel like the worst mommy in the world because I wasn’t in town for my son’s third birthday. I wasn’t there to wake him up, give him a giant hug, or wish him a happy birthday. I feel worse that we had to celebrate it on a day that fit better into my busy travel schedule.

I feel very lucky that I get to travel to some pretty cool places for my job (Dublin, London, Paris, San Francisco, New York…). This week took me to Montreal. I haven’t been to Canada in a couple years; my last trip was to Vancouver back in 2012. I didn’t have much time to actually consider what I would do with my free time because I was so busy prior to leaving for the trip. But the day before I left, I managed to check out trip advisor for the top tourist attractions. What made my list? Notre Dame Cathedral and Mount Royal.

I love an embellished top. I wasn’t even looking for this gorgeous Elie Saab top, but it popped up during one of my online window (browser) shopping trips. When I saw the black embellished top, I think my jaw actually dropped. No, I could never fathom spending THAT much on any one piece of clothing, but, come on, it IS gorgeous.

When I saw this quilted drop waist dress, I initially wasn’t going to bother trying it on because the 1920s silhouette doesn’t usually look very good on my figure. I have a much smaller waist and very wide hips, which doesn’t usually jive with a drop waist dress. But I grabbed it anyway and proceeded to the dressing room.

After researching homemade candy recipes, I couldn’t help but try making some myself. I haven’t met that many candies I didn’t like, but one of my favorites is junior mints — especially at movies.

The Fendi Monster is iconic. Whether you like their furry monsters and bag bugs or not, they are a status symbol for the ultra cool and stylish. There has literally been a Fendi frenzy, with Kendall and Kylie out in front as Fendi’s informal (and formal!) models, regularly toting the little fur balls.

One fall 2015 makeup trend that I can’t help but notice is the resurgence of berry colored lips and nails. It takes me back to the 90s, but I do like the trend every now and then. I’m currently obsessed with the Essie “In The Lobby” color because it feels so appropriate for fall. It is really dark, with almost a blackish undertone, but is still really luscious and rich.

I can’t believe it’s October already. But I’m happy it’s October because, in Phoenix, that means fall is here — the nights are the perfect temperature and days are a lot more bearable. Fall is also my favorite time of the year because it means Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner!

Three months after Gigi was born and for the past 16 months I’ve had some chronic pain.

You know that one item in your closet that you wear and instantly feel fabulous? Well, for me, that’s my little red a-line dress. We know that red is color that elicits power and confidence. It makes you feel sexy and the opposite sex finds red appealing. If these things actually make you shy away from red. Stop it! Everyone should wear red.

Do you have a fall obsession with everything pumpkin like I do? I’m not sure why we all go crazy for our #PSL the minute it’s available at Starbucks, but there is just this undeniable connection between fall and #pumpkineverything. Right?

Is it just me or are leather skirts like a major fashion trend this fall? Everywhere I look, I see more leather, or ‘vegan’ leather in skirts, pants, and clothing accents.

My go-to fall work ‘uniform’ is some version of cropped pants with a blouse and a layering piece. I never thought I could wear printed pants because of my wide and curvy hips, but I’ve found that printed pants are quite flattering (remember these black and white ones?).

There is a ton of potty training tips for boys out there, but a lot of those didn’t really work for us. I already wrote about our early adventures in potty training with our two and a half-year-old, Rocco. The standard ‘sticker chart’ was a big flop, and using a training potty seemed to inhibit rather than help Rocco learn.

Fall is my favorite season. Staring at the changing leaves and bundling up in knit sweaters are some of the things I miss most about living in Wisconsin. Last week, I noticed just the slightest coolness to the sun-drenched Arizona morning. Maybe ‘chill’ is even too strong of a word, but it wasn’t the same level of oppressive heat you feel here in the middle of summer.

I’m constantly looking for healthy ways to incorporate more veggies into my life. It’s even better if I can find a recipe that freezes really well so I can take leftovers to work for lunch. Enter, the easiest and super healthy vegetarian lasagna recipe.

I never thought this day would come, that my parents would sell my childhood home. Yes, my dad had been talking about it for several years, but something always stopped them from moving forward with the sale. This summer, they finally decided it was time to move into a new place, with less maintenance and more convenience as they grow older. I (not so secretly) hoped something would happen so they would keep our home, but the sale went through last week and they are closing on their new place later this month.

It’s not quite fall weather in Phoenix, but I’m looking forward to breaking out my booties and sweaters. While checking out some of the fall lines, I noticed tunics with turtle necks are very popular this season. I noticed this Anthropologie tunic over skirt look because the layering is done so well and the pop of color in the skirt against the neutral tunic and duster coat was striking.

The day before I left to come home from Paris, I realized I hadn’t gotten my husband any souvenirs. It’s not like forgot about him, it’s that he not really into ‘stuff’ and I know he wouldn’t be very excited about a Paris t-shirt.

Last week in Paris, at the Notre Dame Cathedral, I experienced the strangest thing that made me question whether or not I believe in spirits or an afterlife. For the two weeks prior, I had visited loads of museums, castles, palaces and churches in Paris, London and Dublin all renowned for their beauty and magnificence.

Almost 13 years ago, I traveled to London and Paris to visit a friend who was living abroad at the time. With all the time that has gone by, I have kept distinct first impressions of London and Paris in my mind from the first time around. Paris was white, beautiful and immaculate. London was rainy, bitter cold and not at all pretty.

I’m in Paris for work this week and I’ve seen several Parisians wearing lace tops and other clothing with lace accents. I noticed these women because they look ultra chic. Plus, lace is one of my favorite textiles. I love clothing with a lace accent because they are so feminine and timeless, which tends to be the direction I take my style.

My work took me to Ireland last week (I know, I’m a lucky girl). I’ve never been to Ireland before, so I didn’t really know what to expect. I had my list of touristy things I needed to do while I was there, but some of the things I liked best had nothing at all to do with being a tourist. Here are the 8 things I love about Ireland.

I’m in London for work this week and I’ve seen more creepers in the last few days than I’ve ever seen in the U.S., which makes sense given their origin here. I’ve seen creepers popping up on fashion blogs for the past few seasons, and they don’t seem to be going anywhere. To be honest, I generally don’t like creepers, especially if they are extra thick and ridiculously chunky. But there are exceptions to everything.

I’m always about timeless pieces. Yes, I do like to follow some fashion trend every now and then, but generally, I stick to the basics with a few trendy pieces thrown in. I’ve searched to find the perfect gold chronograph watch for women, and I always end up at the same place. For the price and style, you just can’t beat Michael Kors’ versions.

When the ladies at 5 O’Clock Fashionistas contacted me to create a signature cocktail for my current state of Arizona, a few ideas immediately came to mind – limes and tequila were a must. I’ve lived in Arizona on and off for 7 years now and one thing I’ve learned is that Arizonans love their tequila and lime.

I’m a total school nerd. Growing up, I loved school and I still love school (I work at a university). I also loved summer breaks, but I always looked forward to getting ready for another year to start in school. I looked forward to back to school shopping so much–I used to make up lists of items I needed to buy (pink trapper-keeper, check).

Since he first started solids, Rocco has remained a picky eater. We’ve tried our best to get him to try new things, and every now and then, he surprises us (raw broccoli anyone?). Most of the time, he sticks to what he knows.

I love my kids more than anything, but there are times when I miss some aspects of my pre-kid life. I try not to dwell on the negative aspects of parenting, but I got to thinking about this yesterday after one more absurd attempt to use the bathroom in private. Here are the 10 things I miss about life before kids.

My friend was telling me about how her son started kindergarten this week, which got me thinking about Rocco. In just a couple years, I’ll be preparing to send him to his first day of school. I can distinctly remember my first day of kindergarten. I was so excited to start school and I absolutely loved shopping for back to school clothes for kindergarten — and every year there after.

I am so tired of store bought, rotisserie chicken and a roasted veggie – our default, go-to, weekday meal. Needless to say, my husband and I have been on the hunt for new healthy recipes, that are relatively quick and easy. This Eggplant Tomato Pie hits all of those marks!

I’ve been on the fence about the slip dress trend. It reminds me so much of ’90s grunge that I just wasn’t sure it was a trend that should come back around. Whether you like it or not, the slip dress trend is back in a big way.

It’s July in Phoenix so I’m constantly trying to find ways to stay cool. Homemade ice cream or other icy treats are probably my favorite way to cool down. Last summer, we made some homemade bomb pops, which were a fun summer treat.

Lace is by far my favorite textile. I am always drawn to lace pieces, especially in pastels and whites. Lace is so feminine and pretty.

The hunt to find the perfect little white dress is always at the top of my summer shopping list. Nothing says summer fashion to me quite as much as a little white dress. Shorts, sandals and swimsuits are a given, but finding the perfect white dress can sometimes be elusive.