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I bet your kids are talking about recycling in school today. I bet they made some earth-shaped crafts, or something similar. I’m sure their teachers talked to them about the importance of caring for our planet. All of that is great, and a worthy thing to teach kids. But have you ever thought about sustainability in your daily life or how to teach kids about sustainability? This article is meant as a way for you to introduce you to sustainability for kids.

Do you have a go-to cornbread recipe? I love this honey sage cornbread that I usually make during the holidays. It’s the perfect mix of sweet and savory. But then I recently saw this blueberry cornbread recipe and knew I had to give it a try.

I finally jumped on the wide brim hats bandwagon and I’m not looking back. Judith March recently gifted this gorgeous white wide brim fedora and I absolutely fell in love with it. It is quite outside of my normal style, but I’m here for it.

My kids and I are getting to experience lots of firsts this spring. Earlier this spring, we went on our first cruise and last week, we got to go to Lake Tahoe for the first time. My kids have also never done any snow sports so they were so excited to get to try to snowboard for the first time.

I recently got this cute crochet cover up that doubles as a dress for a nighttime look. So I thought it would be fun to show how to style this knitted beach dress in two ways. When I got this dress, I wasn’t sure I’d be that into it. I don’t really wear beige too often because it’s too close to my skin tone. However, I love the cut of this dress so much, so the color has grown on me.

When Disney Parks invited us to visit Walt Disney World AND go on a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas, I honestly couldn’t believe it. For several days, I was in shock. I first received the invite in the late fall of 2021. We were supposed to depart at the end of January, but due to the surge in Omicron, they postponed the trip. Thankfully, they rescheduled it for the end of March, and I was able to take some time with my kids so we could participate.

Since I just went to the Bahamas and Florida and it’s going to be in the 80s this week in LA, I needed to get some new beach cover ups. If you’re heading off to spring break or just need to add some new beach wear to your wardrobe, read on to read about some of my favorite cover up options.

I live in Los Angeles, so we make trips to Disneyland happen at least a couple of times a year. It is one of my kids’ favorite things to do in Southern California, and we’ve been lucky enough to attend some really cool events at Disneyland. However, when we received the coveted invitation to attend the Disney Creators’ event at Walt Disney World, during their 50th birthday celebration, my response was omg yes!

About five months ago, I met the owner of PKLR sport. I had no idea what PKLR stood for. He explained PKLR stands for ‘pickler’. So what is a pickler you ask? Someone who plays pickleball. Prior to meeting him, I had never even heard the term pickleball, I knew nothing of the sport, and I didn’t even know pickleball clothing was a thing.

One of the hottest nail trends for spring is daisy nails. I’ve seen so many cute inspirational photos of daisy nail design that I had to try it for myself. If you’re looking for cute daisy nail designs this spring, here are 8 of my favorites.

I recently got this bright pink pleated dress. I love how classic the style is, yet the bold color makes it so perfect for spring. Pleats are such a classic style and definitely a wardrobe staple. I can still remember a teal pleated skirt I had back in the mid-2000s. It’s one of those pieces that always made me feel so special. Now, I can’t recall why I got rid of it, but it was about time to add a new pleated piece to my wardrobe. This pink pleated dress is definitely a piece I will break out any time I want to feel pretty.

Last weekend, we headed to Carlsbad California. We’ve visited a few times in the past, so I thought it was time that I shared a guide to Carlsbad.

Do you own any metallic clothing? What about a metallic skirt? I’ve had this one in my closet for quite a while. I love this silver midi skirt for several reasons. If you’ve ever thought about owning a silver skirt or any other color metallic skirt, read on to see why they are a great wardrobe addition.

My favorite candy bar, by far, is Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. But, I actually love the holiday-shaped Reese’s even more. I don’t play favorites, I equally love the eggs, trees, pumpkins, and hearts. But there is something that I just love about the holiday-shaped Reese’s even more than the originals. That’s why I decided to make this copycat Reese’s eggs recipe. These homemade peanut butter eggs are so easy to make and almost as good as the original.

One of the things that have been a challenge during the pandemic is my kids’ lack of access to youth sports. Although we’ve found ways to incorporate sports into their daily lives, we’ve definitely missed team sports. Thankfully, we have a lot of memories from our past sports experiences and have even found ways to keep in touch with our past coaches and families. Now that we are back in sports this spring, we are excited to start building new relationships and friendships. Even during the break from our sports seasons, we’ve been able to keep in touch using the Spond app, which is perfect for youth sports team management.

If you’ve followed my fashion content at all, you know I love a sweater dress. I love them because they come in so many different shapes, colors, styles, and fits. If you click here, you’ll see all of the sweater dresses I’ve worn in the last couple of years. I recently got this new black and white sweater dress and I’m really loving it, especially for work. Read on to see more of my favorite sweater dresses and how I style them.

It’s almost that time of year to get ready for Easter. That’s why I made these cute nutter butter Easter bunnies. They are so easy to make and my kids loved them! They didn’t turn out as perfectly as I’d like, but they are very fun and festive for the Easter holiday.

Have you taken your kids in a pony ride yet? One of my fondest memories as a very little child was riding ponies at Bay Beach in Green Bay. I always loved riding the ponies and I realized recently that my kids have never ridden a horse or a pony. That’s why I decided to look for places for pony rides in Los Angeles and also pony rides in Long Beach.

Most of the time, I share dressier looks. I love to dress up, but honestly, I hardly ever get to wear dressy clothes. I work from home most of the time, so I rarely need to wear my business professional or even business casual clothes. On the weekends, even if I’m going out with friends, I usually opt for jeans and a leather jacket. On a rare occasion, I’ll break out a fancier dress. But, most of the time, I’m rocking casual mom outfits, like this one.

Don't toss those day-old donuts. This easy, TikTok-inspired hack turns them into adorable cake pops the kids will devour.

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.

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.