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I recently got a new Shein haul (gifted). It was so funny when my package arrived because I think 5 of the 8 pieces I picked were black and white. There is something so classic about the color combination that you can’t go wrong. Plus, it is always in style. When I saw this belted cardigan, I actually wasn’t planning to wear it as a dress.

My family’s favorite meal is definitely breakfast. During the workweek, we often have breakfast for dinner. I’m so glad my kids love it because breakfast is such an easy meal to put together and it’s generally pretty healthy too (at least the way I do it).

Last weekend, I had the chance to visit LACMA for the first time. It is a stunning museum, so I thought I’d share my experience with those who might be interested in visiting themselves someday.

It’s felt like summer in LA the last two weeks, but we are going back to cooler temperatures this week and I’m thankful. I can’t lie, I do love winter coat weather, but only a little bit of it. I love that I can throw on a cute coat, like this long teddy coat on cooler nights. I’ve added quite a few winter coats this year because I’ve found so many affordable ones that are also super stylish.

My dear friend is going to Paris in March and it got me thinking about all of my trips to Paris. I’ve been there 4 times and each trip has been unique and special. There are certain places in the world I think I could travel to every year. London, Paris, and New York come to mind.

Do you dress up for Valentine’s day? If you’re looking for a Valentine’s day dress that isn’t so obvious (enter red or pink), I’m sharing my favorite asymmetrical neckline dresses that I think are perfect for Valentine’s day. I love any excuse to dress up.

I’ve been obsessed with the Starbucks bacon gruyere egg bites for a while now. I recently tried the kale and mushroom egg bites and I love them too! Although I never thought I’d get tired of the bacon egg bites, it was time for a change. The kale and mushroom bites are so good too, so I wanted to come up with a recipe to make these copycat Starbucks egg bites at home, just like I did with the bacon ones.

The new The Ice Age: Adventures of Buck Wild movie came out last weekend on Disney+. They invited me to throw a watch party, and I realized this would be such a fun birthday party theme for any kid that loves the Ice Age movies. If your child loves Ice Age, here are some ideas on how to create the perfect Ice Age birthday party.

For the past two years, I’ve been living in sweatshirts and sweatpants. I finally bought myself some new jeans and a few sweaters to up my casual game, just a bit. Every now and then, I also need to dress up for work. Although I don’t have to get super dressy, I want to look put together. I recently found these great comfy work pants and also bought a few sweaters, including this cute emerald green sweetheart neckline sweater.

A women’s plaid jacket is a timeless piece that you should definitely have in your closet. Plaid has been around for centuries, and it’s definitely not going anywhere. If you’ve ever wondered where plaid comes from, how to style it, or what the current plaid trends are, keep reading.

I love lemons and lemon-flavored desserts. I recently made these lemon-lime cookie bars, which were a huge hit. Also, I’ve previously shared 5 of my favorite lemon recipes that I’d make again. Although I’ve made lemon cookies before, I’ve never made lemon shortbread cookies, but it’s something I’ve wanted to try.

I’m a major fan of sweater dresses. I love to wear them in the winter time especially. They are the perfect winter dress in LA because they provide just enough warmth for the cooler days when pair with boots and a jacket, while still being versatile for the warmer winter days when paired with flats or sandals. If you want to read more about my love of sweater dresses, click here. I recently added this cute black and white color block sweater dress to my roster, and I’m loving the fit and cute off-the-shoulder detail.

Each week, I try to replace at least a couple of meals with a plant-based or vegetarian alternative. Last week, I made this vegan chili, which was so delicious. I decided I’d try another healthy recipe, so I decided on chickpea burgers using my favorite legume – chickpeas/garbanzo beans. This recipe is for vegan chickpea burgers, but I also share ways to change it up if you don’t like chickpeas.

I’m really into winter coats this year. Even though it doesn’t get that cold in LA, there are a few weeks during the winter when I can break out winter coats. Plus, I don’t mind adding to my collection for the times I travel back home to to the east coast during the winter months (take me back to February Fashion Week). I recently got this white winter coat. The color falls somewhere between white and ivory. It’s the perfect overcoat to wear over my favorite sweater dresses, which are my winter-time staple.

I love to make chili in the winter. I haven’t made chili in a long time, so I decided to try something totally different. The other chili recipe I love is a healthy crockpot chili using ground turkey. This vegan chili recipe using chorizo, which gives it a great rich and slightly spicy flavor.

“Every piece of jewelry tells a story.” I saw this quote recently and it really resonated with me. It is one of the reasons I am so excited to announce the launch of my first ever jewelry collection – August Lane. The creation of this collection tells it’s own story, so I wanted to share with you how August Lane came to be.

I recently got this adorable printed cropped puffer coat and I love it! There are so many cute women’s cropped puffer jackets on the market right now, so I am sharing my favorites under $50. Mine is only $47 and it’s too cute. The type of winter jacket you want really depends on several factors including price, quality, type of filling, length, and style. So if you’re trying to decide which cropped puffer coat is for you, here’s a guide to help you choose.

I was cleaning out my closet a couple of weeks ago and I found this black leather mini skirt I literally forgot I owned. I bought it on clearance probably 5 or more years ago and I never wore it. At the time, I remember buying it because it was such a great price for real leather. Although a pleated mini skirt isn’t something I’d wear all too often, it is a classic style that comes in and out of trend every couple of years. Lucky for me, I found this black pleated mini skirt just as mini skirts are back in fashion.

For my true chocolate lovers, I have the perfect flourless chocolate torte recipe is for you. This recipe is definitely for those people who love rich and extra dark chocolate. If you don’t love chocolate, this is going to be too rich for you. For some people, this recipe might not be sweet enough.

It finally feels like winter in LA. I actually turned the heat on this past week. December and January are our coldest months, so I’m taking advantage of the colder weather and snagging some cute coats during the winter sales. This embellished long winter coat is so stylish and a fun addition to my coat wardrobe. I’m definitely planning to bring it with me to D.C. next month.

I was talking with a friend about the holidays and he mentioned the best dessert he’d ever eaten was a homemade chocolate rum cake. Sure, the baker was actually a professional chef. But, I’ve never even heard of, let alone, had a chocolate rum cake, so I had to try. There are so many different chocolate rum cakes out there, but after searching through lots of recipes, this one seemed to have the most stellar reviews. I changed a few things up to make this my own, but I can definitely tell you it’s really delicious.

My friends at Saint and Sophia recently gifted me this gorgeous safari jacket. It is the perfect short trench that is timeless and literally goes so well with so many items. If you’re looking for a classic piece to add to your wardrobe, a safari jacket for women is it!

Did you get your nails done for the holidays yet? If you’re looking for cute Christmas nails ideas, I’ve got good ones for you. I’m sharing 10 holiday nails that I think are so fun for the holidays.

When I think about the holidays, cranberries are definitely a flavor that comes to mind. I’m always looking for new Italian cookie recipes, so when I found the orange cranberry biscotti recipe I knew I wanted to give it a try. If you’ve never made biscotti, you need to try! It is seriously one of the easiest types of cookies to make. Plus, its so perfect this time of year to serve with a hot toddy, coffee, tea or hot cocoa.

I’ve hardly worn jeans since before the pandemic. In the last couple of months, I’ve been searching all over for jeans I love. I did find some 90s style jeans I loved, but I also do prefer a more tapered leg. But tapered is not just as in right now, so I’m trying to venture into wider leg jeans. I recently found these black asymmetric jeans and I love them!

Are you looking for gift ideas that also make a difference? All of the brands below allow you to also have a positive impact with your purchasing power. I like to look at these gift choices as gifts that give back. I personally feel so good when I can not only get a great gift for someone on my list while also knowing that a portion of my dollars spent on the purchase will go to help a good cause. If you’re looking for socially conscious gift ideas, check out some of my favorites below.

If you’re looking for a really easy gift idea, you can make this Christmas candy jar in minutes. I made this specifically as a cuter way to give someone a gift card. Instead of just giving them a gift card, I put it inside of the Christmas mason jar so it’s a bit of a gift with a surprise inside. Plus, who doesn’t love some candy?

Especially every holiday season, I love to make Italian-inspired dishes. I’ve made several Italian cookies in the past, so I searched for a new one for this year. These Sicilian S cookies are the perfect cookie to enjoy with your coffee or tea. They are crunchy, sweet, but not too sweet, and you can dress them up with a glaze and sprinkles, or keep them plain. If it’s not super obvious, the S stands for Sicily.

It’s officially the holiday season, so it’s time for a beauty giveaway. I will give one lucky winner over $500 worth of beauty, wellness and skincare products! Entering is simple. Click below to enter via Rafflecopter. There are several ways to enter. No purchase necessary and open to U.S. Residents only. Winner will be selected at random and notified via the email address provided.

To kick off our Thanksgiving break, our friends at Hyatt Regency Indian Wells hosted us. Although we’ve visited Palm Springs before, this is our first time staying here and we’ll definitely be back. This hotel is the ideal destination for families and anyone who wants a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life. If you’re looking for the best Palm Springs hotels for kids, you definitely need to read about our experience at the Hyatt Regency.

One of my favorite flavors is the lemon lime combination. I absolutely love the tart flavor. It’s even better if it’s sweet and tart, which is why these lemon lime cookie bars are one of my new favorite recipes. The best part is that this is literally such a simple recipe. Even if you’re not much of a baker, I’m sure these will turn out perfectly for you.

I recently got this gorgeous red and black bodycon dress and I think it’s perfect for a holiday party. I chose this dress because I love the bodycon fit and also the ruffle bottom that flares out. It’s also really fun that it has ruffles right at the sleeve.

I’m normally a red or pink manicure kinda gal. Lately, I’ve been stepping outside of my comfort zone and recently tried a green color. The color is somewhere between army green and forest green nails. It did take me some getting used to, but I actually really loved the whole vibe of the fall green nails. If you’re interested in trying out something new, I’m here to share some green nail ideas you might want to try.

On Veterans Day, my kids and I attended the first night of Disney Merriest Nites. This is a special after-hours event featuring 6 separate holiday parties. Tickets for this year are sold out, but if you were lucky enough to snag a ticket, here is what you can expect!

What is your favorite Thanksgiving pie? I like sweet potato, pumpkin, and apple too. But honestly, I do love pecan pie. I love how sweet it is and I love the texture combinations. I’ve made homemade pecan pie a few times, but never tried bite-sized ones or muffin-tin-sized ones. I decided to try both this past week. The mini-sized ones in the muffin-tin were the winners in my family. The normal muffin-tin-sized ones were my favorite for serving guests because they are so much prettier than the tiny ones. Either way, these mini pecan pies are so good and literally bite-sized.

My kids love doing crafts, especially to celebrate upcoming holidays. The other day after school, I asked the kids if they wanted to try this simple handprint turkey craft and they answered with a resounding yes. There is something about kids and handprints that are so endearing. It’s also fun to see their handprints grow over time. (We did this turkey handprint drawing way back in 2013 – Gigi wasn’t even around yet. Look at little Rocco’s hand!)

For my day job as a university administrator, I used to dress in professional clothes every day. Blazers were a wardrobe staple for me. I recently purged a lot of the items in my closet. I realized I don’t have much workwear left that I actually like. Given how long its been since I wore most of the items (I’ve been working from home since 2018), I figured it was time for a refresher.

If you know me well, you know I love peanut butter. Did you know it’s National Peanut Butter Lover’s Month? We get a whole month. So in honor of that, I decided to try making the ultimate peanut butter rice Krispie treats. Although I didn’t think I could ever top my beloved Special K bars, I have to say, these treats are really great too. I personally adore the chocolate peanut butter combination. But, if you’re not as much of a chocolate lover, then I think this recipe is for you.

Have you experienced a time where you needed to advocate for your child? I think a lot of us have been raised to respect authority and not really questions decisions that affect our kids. However, I recently had an experience at my daughter’s gymnastics that got me thinking about how parents can advocate for their child. If you’ve ever wondered about how to advocate for your child, keep reading about my recent experience.

This past weekend, I was pleasantly surprised to find a very festive street decorated for Diá de los Muertos. It was the perfect backdrop to share my new favorite cotton biker jacket. Biker jackets are one of my favorite things to wear in the fall and winter. I recently got this knit moto jacket and I am seriously so excited about it. I love how flexible and comfortable it is.

Do you like pesto? If so, I have a really easy homemade basil walnut pesto recipe that I love to serve with store-bought gnocchi. This is such an easy meal to make any night of the week and I just love pesto gnocchi. I have made homemade gnocchi in the past, but it is very time-consuming. However, making fresh basil pesto is actually really easy to do. It’s the perfect way to make an easy meal that still tastes super fresh.

Do you change up your nail design and colors depending on the season? I definitely do. Although, I always wear classic red and beige colors year-round. During the fall, I like to explore different fall colors. I love doing less obvious designs, but still like to try different fall nails.

In Los Angeles, I don’t often need heavy coats. Even in the dead of winter, it doesn’t get all that cold here. However, I do like to have a few winter coats on hand for the rare trip to wintery climates. I recently found this yellow drop shoulder overcoat and I love it! If you’re interested in considering long overcoats this winter, read on to see why you might just want one.

It’s already been over a year since I visited Dallas and I never got around to blogging about it. I had been to Dallas a few times when I was much younger, but I was so surprised at how different the city was. I’m not sure why I was surprised, it had been over 20 years since I’d been there. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked the city, especially the Dallas murals and street art.

Bruschetta is one of my favorite appetizers. It’s so easy to make, and such a perfect appetizer or even a quick lunch. I recently made this bruschetta Caprese and it was a huge hit. Given how much everyone liked it, I thought I’d try again. I had a lot of extra mushrooms in the house, so I thought I’d try a mushroom bruschetta.

I own probably half a dozen moto jackets, or more – really. It’s a bit of an obsession. I love moto jackets because they are the perfect fall layer and also super versatile for living in southern California. I recently got a new brown faux suede moto jacket and it’s definitely going to be one of my wardrobe staples this year.

Do you have a favorite holiday side? My family loves it all, but sweet potatoes are always served at our holiday gatherings. This year, we wanted to try something new, so I made these roasted sweet potato stacks. They are a prettier way to serve sweet potatoes, and I personally think even tastier. These turned out even better than I expected because they are pretty and delicious.

I haven’t worn many sweaters sine 2019. With the pandemic, I opted for sweatshirts instead. Since I hardly left the house, I didn’t feel much of a need to dress in anything besides joggers and sweatshirts. Now that I’m spending a lot more time outside of my house, I figured it was time to update my fall wardrobe.

Are you looking for an easy way to achieve an amazing Halloween makeup look with very little effort? Then you need to try face paint stencils. I recently received some in a press kit, so I had to try them out! The cheetah cat face stencils and the fairy makeup stencils, and both were so simple to use and turned out so cute! My daughter was upset with me that I didn’t include her in the face painting fun, so I’m going to test out some of the other stencils on her next weekend.

One of my all-time favorite Italian appetizers is a simple, yet classic Caprese. I absolutely love fresh mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes. It is such a simple combination, but pure perfection. I didn’t think it could get better, and then it did. This bruschetta Caprese is even better than the all-time classic.

I love midi dresses and midi skirts. I think they are the perfect length. They are the perfect balance of sexy and sophisticated. Since I wear them so often, I thought it was about time that I do a little tutorial on how to style a midi skirt.

Organizational skills have always come easily to me, or so I thought. I never really thought about it, honestly. I’ve always been super organized, for as long as I can remember. But this past week, I had an epiphany. My son brought home a student planner provided by his school. Apparently, 3rd graders get planners so they can learn about writing daily to-do lists and keep their classwork organized. His teacher provided a bit of information about using planners and why it’s one of the great activities to teach organizational skills to your kids.

I can’t believe it’s already October 1st! This year has really flown by. October is one of my favorite months because of Halloween and also my son’s birthday. It’s almost time for the holiday season too, which is exciting. Every year, we do a matching pjs photoshoot during Christmas time. But this year, I saw adorable matching family Halloween pajamas, and I couldn’t resist! Not only are these pjs absolutely adorable, but my kids are also still willing to pose with me! I’m going to get us matching pjs until they won’t do it anymore.

Do you like to do crafts with your kids? My kids love doing crafts. We’ve been doing crafts since they were really young. Fall and Halloween are great times for crafts because there are so many easy and fun crafts to do! We made these cute apple stamps. I also recently made this days until Halloween pumpkin, which my kids love because it is interactive and allows them to draw with chalk. I wanted to do an easy craft with my kids this past weekend. This Q-tip skeleton craft is perfect because it doesn’t require a lot of supplies and most people will have these items in their homes.

I love cookie bars. Literally, anything that resembles a cookie in bar form (brownies included), I’m here for it. I received a bunch of random ingredients in one of my press boxes, so I had this giant bag of toffee. I didn’t know what to do with it, so I decided to start searching for recipes. After a lot of searching, I chose to make shortbread toffee bars and I’m so glad I did. Let me tell you, these didn’t last more than a day or two in my house! They are that good.

It’s been a long time since I had an excuse to wear a nicer dress. To be honest, reentering the world in dressier clothes has felt a bit odd. I am so used to rocking my sweats, it’s been quite the transition. That’s why I adore this black slit sleeve dress because it’s made of cotton and completely stretchy! It’s so comfortable and so easy to wear, while still looking very put together, maybe even dressy.

Are you looking for an adorable and fun Halloween treat? You need to make these yummy pumpkin mummy cookies! They are super easy to make, oh so cute, and really delicious.

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. It also happens to be the second-biggest U.S. holiday after Christmas. And it’s no wonder why. What’s not to like about Halloween? It’s all about dressing in fun costumes and eating candy! This year, I’ve gotten more into decorating for Halloween too. I was searching for a Halloween advent calendar, but most of them felt really cheesy and juvenile. I decided to make a days until Halloween pumpkin craft because it felt a bit more chic and also interactive.

I recently got this adorable romper shorts set from my friends at Saint and Sophia. I’m so in love with this cute little romper because it appears it’s a dress, but underneath there are hidden shorts! I also love the adorable star and constellation print. If you’re wondering how to wear your romper shorts this fall, here are three ideas.

Smoothie bowls are one of my favorite breakfast or midday snacks. They are so versatile. You can make so many different flavors of smoothie bowls and they are a great replacement when you’re tired of your traditional smoothies. I started making smoothie bowls once I got sick of eating the same protein smoothie every day. The thing that is great about smoothie bowls is the range of toppings you can use to change up the flavor and texture of your smoothie bowl.

This summer, I saw The Suicide Squad and instantly fell in love with the Harley Quinn character. I’m usually not into the comic book movies. I’ll watch them every now and then, but I hardly even knew who Harley Quinn was before I saw the movie. Sure, I had heard she was ‘Jokers Girlfriend’, but that was about it.

I can’t lie. Since the pandemic started, I swore off jeans in favor of joggers. I hadn’t worn jeans in well over a year. Then, I slowly started to reintroduce myself to ‘normal’ life (i.e. going out to dinner with my girlfriends), and I realized my wardrobe was sorely lacking. I planned to attend my first concert in years, and I needed a new look. That’s when I finally got a new pair of jeans

It’s nearly fall, which always makes me think of desserts using apples and pumpkin. I’ve made several pumpkin recipes and apple recipes during my eight years of blogging. But, I’ve never made mini apple pies with puff pastry before. If you haven’t used puff pastry before, it is one of the best short-cuts for all types of desserts. It functions much like a pie crust without all the time and effort. Although I do love making this simple pie crust, you can save the mixing and resting time by opting for puff pastry.

Shein invited me to try out some of their new Shein X items. Most of the choices feel a lot more avant guarde than how I normally dress. But one of my fashion goals over the last few years is to try new styles that I normally wouldn’t wear. This flowy black dress is an example of a piece I normally wouldn’t wear.

We moved to California in 2018. When we chose our place, one of the things I loved about the house was the two large sliding patio doors that stretch the entire length of my open floor plan living room and dining room.

Have you ever tried puff pastry baked brie with garlic? If not, you must try this simple recipe! It is seriously so delicious and also so pretty! I love the fall vibes I created simply by adding fresh herbs and tiny little leaf cutouts.

I recently got this adorable red and gold dress and it’s giving me all of the fall vibes. I really love the flowy sleeves and the knee-length is flattering. As I was looking through the photos from our shoot, I realized this is the perfect fall dress to wear to a wedding. I wish I had somewhere to wear it. But, if you’re trying to figure out what to wear to a fall wedding, I’ve got you covered.

Have you ever had chocolate covered dates before? I actually watched a version of this recipe in a TikTok video so I knew I had to try it. I changed up the recipe a bit by adding different types of chocolate and adding in some honey-roasted peanuts for some extra crunch. Believe it or not, these chocolate covered dates actually taste like a healthy snickers bar. No, not exactly like it. But, the dates mimic the taste of caramel.

Earlier this summer, I was so optimistic that the 2021 school year would be ‘back to normal’. Now that I’m only a couple of weeks away from my kids going back to school, I’m thinking a lot about how to prepare for the next school year during COVID-19. After choosing to keep my kids home the last year and a half, we’ve opted to send them back to in-person instruction in the fall. To be completely honest, I’m anxious about the decision. After a lot of thought, we felt it was the best choice for our kids and our family, despite our fears.

Have you tried making chaffles before? If you’re following a low-carb or a keto diet, these are probably a mainstay. But even if you’re not on those diets, I think this zucchini chaffles recipe is a great way to replace refined carbs and add extra veggie and protein too.

Denim jackets have always been a wardrobe staple for me. Last summer, this tie dye one was my favorite. And I totally rocked a totally classic style on my trip to Italy. My new favorite way to wear a denim jacket is this cute short sleeve denim jacket. It is the perfect layering piece for summer and early fall.

One of my favorite ways to use extra summer fruit is to make easy galette recipes. Unlike baking fresh pies, galettes are much easier and feel much less fussy than pies. Also, I love this easy cherry galette recipe using fresh cherries because the whole thing takes less than an hour to make, including baking time, and it’s such a great dish to serve at a casual family gathering.

If you’ve followed my blog for any period of time, you know I love murals and street art. For that matter, I love all things art. Whenever I visit a city, I always make time to check out the local street art. This summer, I had the chance to visit the Mission District murals in San Francisco.

Confession, I’m actually super self-conscious about wearing sleeveless tops. I have always thought my arms were too big, so I think I look better in shirts with sleeves. It’s one of the reasons I love wearing jackets so much. Not only do jackets cover up my arms, I think jackets really complete a look. I recently started getting into sheer jackets because they are so perfect for summer. This sheer bomber jacket is the perfect piece to complete my simple night look.

It’s watermelon season and we are here for it! We love watermelon and had so much extra on hand. That’s why I decided to make these easy homemade watermelon popsicles. It is such a simple recipe and the best part is that it only uses real ingredients and no artificial flavors.

It’s been so hot in LA, it’s time to break out this cute light blue cami dress. Can you believe this is under $20?! I love all of the cute details, including the faux wrap style and the fun see-through cutouts at the waist. Also, I love that the straps are adjustable which really helps to create a more lifted look.

Being a working mom means I’m often scrambling to find a quick lunch or dinner option for my kids most days of the week. That’s why I love this easy meatball sliders recipe. It’s a quick, balanced, and kid-friendly meal I know they will love.

For a lot of people, Alaska is high on their bucket list. My idea of Alaska was a lot different than what I actually experienced. I was expecting glaciers and polar bears. I hadn’t even heard of Sitka Alaska before my dear friend moved there last year. Despite my lack of knowledge of Alaska, I have to say that I’m so glad I’ve gotten to experience the glorious beauty of Sitka. And this summer, I was lucky enough to be able to take my kids too. If you have the chance to visit, I highly encourage it. And if you can bring your kids, even better. Here are 10 things to do in Sitka Alaska with kids.

Every summer, I buy a new white dress. When we shot this look, Jade asked me, “haven’t we shot that before?” It was a fair question since this one looks very similar. But I love this white ruffle hem dress too because of the all-over eyelet material. Plus, the fit is very flattering and comfortable.

If you’ve been to New Orleans, you’ve probably tried a muffuletta – or at least passed some stores with muffulettas for sale. They are a classic New Orleans sandwich, first created by Italian immigrants. The word muffuletta is based on Sicilian sesame bread. Muffulettas first appeared in the French Quarter as early as the 1890s and have remained a popular sandwich in New Orleans. I received a bunch of deli meat in the mail, so I decided to create a muffuletta recipe as a way to enjoy all of the delicious meats.

Summer is in full swing and I’m constantly looking for ways to make sure my kids are having fun and being active. That’s why I’m a big fan of backyard water toys for kids. They offer hours of fun and there are a lot of affordable options. We don’t have a big backyard, but we do have a front yard that works for water games.

Have you tried making homemade birthday cake ice cream? Well, if you don’t have an ice cream maker, you can still make it at home with this recipe. If you do have an ice cream maker, then you need to try this classic sweet cream ice cream that I turned into birthday cake ice cream! It is so yummy, and I know your entire family will love this recipe.

Last weekend, I visited Sonoma for my first ever Sonoma wine tour. I was in the San Francisco area to visit a friend, so we spent one of our free days in Sonoma. When she first mentioned the idea, I initially asked why not Napa? But she told me that she prefers the Sonoma wine tours more than the Napa ones, so I was on board.

Are you a salad person? In the summer, I definitely prefer to eat salads for lunch over most other things. I normally prefer hot food, but in the summer, I love a cold salad with cold roasted veggies on it. This arugula beet salad is my current go-to. I roast up a large batch of beets on Sunday and then I can make healthy salads all week long.

Have you ever wondered how you can choose a look to wear from work to happy hour and look great doing it? Then this is the post for you. Now that things are opening back up and a lot of people are heading back to the office, more and more social events will be happening after work. You don’t have to look stuffy at happy hour if you choose the right look to go seamlessly from work to happy hour.

Are you looking for a summer project for the whole family? Then you will love this custom tie-dye shirts tutorial. It is so easy to make your very own custom t-shirts at home with the Cricut Joy™ and Smart Materials™. They are the ultimate tools for creating plenty of activities to keep your family busy this summer.

Did you know today is National Donut Day? Depending on where you live, you can score up to six free donuts today. None of the free donut locations are anywhere near me. I won’t be scoring any free donuts today, but donuts are still on my mind. I decided I wanted to find some baked donut recipes so I could still enjoy the donut goodness without all the calories.

I recently got a new straw bag and I’m in love. Summer straw bags are so versatile this time of year. They travel so easily from beach to brunch to any other time. They really are the perfect bags for summer.

Los Angeles is in bloom! I love jacaranda season, as I call it. These purple flowering trees are my absolute favorite. Ironically, my very first blog post (8 years ago!) was about my love of the jacaranda trees back when we lived in Irvine. The other day I was at the park with my kids and I saw this gorgeous tree in bloom so I planned an outfit specifically around a shoot with this tree.

I can’t believe it’s already Memorial Day weekend! If you’re looking for some ideas for new recipes, here are 5 Memorial Day grilling recipes that I love. No, you definitely don’t just need to stick with burgers and hot dogs. I encourage you to try something new, especially find a way to incorporate vegetables and fruits this grilling season!

A couple of weeks ago, I visited my friend Ramona of Fab Everyday in Austin, TX. Although I had been to Austin one other time for Mom 2.0, I hadn’t gotten to explore much of Austin, other than the conference hotel and a quick trip to Torchy’s with some bloggers for a quick dinner. This time around, I had a few places on my list that I had hoped we would visit, and Hamilton Pool Reserve was at the top of my list.

There are certain looks that feel timeless, iconic even. For me, that’s any combination of black and white. When I saw this black and white striped dress I knew I had to order it. I can still remember my absolute favorite look to go out when I was in college. It was this black v-neck chevron black and white top.

It’s national pizza party day! Yes, that’s really a thing. I’m so excited about today because my kids and I already love our weekly pizza party tradition. Now we have even more reasons to celebrate. If you want to get in on the action, you need to try this easy pizza dough recipe by hand recipe. It is so very easy that you can pull it off any night of the week with very little prep or proofing.

Do you dress up for any holidays? I love to get new dresses for holidays because it’s just another fun way to express myself and immerse myself in that holiday. For all the patriotic holidays – including memorial day, labor day, and the 4th of July, I love to wear red and white. I won’t wear a full-on American flag, but I already love red, so it’s a fun way to nod to our colors without being over the top.

I’ve gotten more into nail art over the last few years. Lately, I’m really loving the modern french manicure trend. It is so popular for spring, and I hope this is a trend that stays. It’s an easy way to enter the nail art space if you’re not ready for major designs or bejeweled nails. Yet, it’s modern and goes with everything.

Is it just me, or is everyone visiting flower fields this year? I’ve seen other bloggers in the pacific northwest and also a blogger friend in Michigan visiting tulip fields. Then, I’ve noticed more and more of my feed filled with the Carlsbad flower fields, which is how learned about the Cassara. which is part of the Hilton Tapestry collection.

Since it’s national apple pie day, I decided to try making this apple pie cookies recipe. Honestly, these cookies are really delicious on their own. They are very easy to make and they are so moist and chewy. The chunks of apple add a burst of flavor along with the cinnamon and nutmeg. Although I do love these cookies alone, they aren’t the most picturesque. They are just rather boring looking, so that’s why I decided to make apple pie ice cream sandwiches.

I recently found this Shein spring floral dress for only $16 and I immediately searched for the same dress in more prints. I’m one of those people who buys multiples of the same item if I love it. Unfortunately, this is the only version of this dress. But, thankfully, there are tons of other affordable Shein floral dresses for spring.

My kids are almost at that age where they aren’t going to be willing to do mommy and me outfits much longer. So, I’m going to make the most of it while they are still game to pose with me. The other day, I was at Target and found so many cute mommy and me fashion looks, so I had to snag this floral set. To be honest, the matching floral dress looks horrible on me, so I opted for this pink dress that still matched their look without being identical.

It’s Cinco de Mayo! I wanted to try a really easy shrimp tacos recipe that would also be a great way to celebrate, so I made these delicious and super easy shrimp tacos.