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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.

The magic is back! The magic is here. To say I was excited to be invited to the Disneyland reopening on April 30th is an understatement. We have been patiently waiting for more than a year to be back at Disneyland. Literally a week or two before we received our invitation, my kids were reminiscing about all their favorite things at Disneyland and talking about how much they miss it. Prior to the closure, we had visited only a week before and got to experience the Magic Happens parade. Some of our fondest memories in the parks happened right before the closure, so we were beyond excited to be back.

Are you a zucchini bread fan? My mom used to make it for us every summer, so I definitely love the original thing. However, regular zucchini bread is so basic, so I wanted to try chocolate zucchini bread muffins. I honestly wasn’t sure how these would turn out. I love zucchini – especially these zucchini parmesan crisps and this zucchini crust pizza recipe.

Today is National Kids and Pets Day – yes, that’s a thing! To be honest with you, I wasn’t sure I was going to get my kids a dog. I grew up with a dog and we had a dog before we had kids (Leon passed away from old age when my kids were babies). But over the last 6 months, the kids have been nonstop asking for a dog. I finally caved in after I found Coco from a local rescue. She was exactly what I was looking for, and getting her is the best decision I’ve made. My kids love her so much, and she has become such an important part of our lives. If you haven’t gotten a pet for your child yet, here are 5 reasons why every child should have a pet.

I have a lot of Shein black dresses I love. But, when I saw this sheer top black dress I knew I needed to add that to my wardrobe. It has such a cute 50s style with the little shirt collar. It is a fit and flare shape, which is really flattering on most body types. I love that the top is sheer because it creates a lot more visual interest than a regular old black dress.

Have you ever had an amaretto sour? I hadn’t, but I knew I wanted to try one in honor of National Amaretto Day. Amaretto is an Italian liquor that’s typically flavored with almonds or apricot stones. Its distinctive flavor can be incorporated into numerous cocktails, but it’s best known for the Amaretto Sour. Some people don’t like this drink because it can be too sweet.

Are you tired of your same old brunch staples? I have a new recipe that you need to try! This bacon egg and cheese strata is so delicious! I actually can’t believe how simple this recipe is, yet its so delicious. My kids absolutely loved it, and they are a tough crowd.

You spend one-third of your life in bed. Have you thought about what you’re sleeping on lately? Honestly, I never gave my mattress much thought. My main priority was comfort.

Today is National Peach Cobbler Day! My family loves peach cobbler, so I decided to change it up and make this peach cobbler pound cake recipe. I have made white peach cobbler before on my blog – it was early-on when I started my blog (and the terrible photos are proof of that). But, I stand by the recipe!

Probably the best fashion outcome of the pandemic has been the reemergence of matching sweat suits and all of the other leisurewear that is so popular right now. To be honest, I haven’t worn jeans in a year. Yes, skinny jeans are out and wide leg and mom jeans are majorly in. However, I still would rather wear sweats or these super comfortable Brooklyn joggers I’ve been living in.

Last weekend we took our new rescue dog named Coco to Rosie’s Dog Beach in Long Beach, California. This was our first time taking a dog to the beach, although we frequent this beach quite often. There are a lot of great dog beaches in Southern California.

Did you know today is National Coffee Cake Day? My kids and I love coffee cake. We generally prefer the traditional coffee cake with all of the cinnamon goodness. However, I wanted to incorporate fruit into this recipe since spring and summer have the best produce! I decided to try making this blueberry streusel coffee cake because I really love blueberries in baked goods.

You know that time at the beginning of spring where it’s not quite that warm yet but you want to wear summer dresses? That’s why I got this yellow and black floral dress. It is the perfect transition piece from winter to spring. The yellow floral print on a black dress feels very wintery, but can also work great the rest of the year too! It really just depends on how you style it.

It’s strawberry season! I love fresh strawberries this time of year. They are so sweet and gorgeous. I’ve made a few strawberry recipes over the years, so this year I wanted to try something new. I had never heard of spoon cake or spoon bread before so I decided to try a strawberry spoon bread recipe.

Sometimes I stumble on a trend that I didn’t even realize was a trend. That’s what happened last week when I got this new red animal print dress. I chose it because I liked the simple t-shirt style shape with the tie at the waist. But once I started searching for comparable red animal print dresses, I realized they are everywhere! There are high-end ones, like this Saint Laurent, and totally affordable ones, like mine.

It’s officially springtime! Nothing says spring more than pastel colors! I’m obsessed with this lavender dress from Shein, so I wanted to share some of my other favorite purple dresses. Lavender is one of those colors that actually look great on most people.

Last week, we headed to Palm Springs and Palm Desert in Coachella Valley for the Desert X Exhibition. If you’re in the Los Angeles area between now and May, you should definitely take a day trip to check out this amazing art exhibition.

Did you know today is National Lacy Oatmeal Cookie Day? Yeah, I didn’t know it was a thing either until a couple of days ago. I hadn’t even heard of lacy oatmeal cookies before. I’ve made Florentine lace cookies before, but never oatmeal lace cookies. I love trying new recipes, so I decided to give these a shot. OMG, if you like caramel and oats, you’re going to love this recipe. These cookies are so delicious, they are seriously addictive.

If you had told me I’d be wearing this acid wash high-waisted mom jeans outfit as my newest go-to look, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. I’ve been searching for the best mom jeans at various price points, fits, and styles, so I thought I’d share my experience with you.

I decided to try this copycat Starbucks banana bread next because I was so excited that you guys loved my Starbucks copycat egg bite recipe. It’s been my top-performing recipe since I posted it! Banana bread has been so popular since quarantine. I’m sure you have a recipe you love. But, I’m telling you, this Starbucks banana bread recipe is legitimately the best banana bread I’ve ever had.

Say hi to Coco! She is the newest member of our family! I’ve been thinking about adopting a rescue dog for a while now, so I thought I would share my experience with you. Although puppies are great – they are adorable and it’s so much fun to watch them grow – I felt certain I wanted to rescue a dog rather than get a puppy from a breeder. The thing is, there are so many dogs in the world that need good homes, so it felt selfish to me not to adopt a dog that needed a home.

I’ve told you that sweater dresses are definitely my go-to right now. I love sweater dresses because they are so comfortable but look put-together without even trying. You don’t have to iron them and they are really low-maintenance. I wear sweater dresses for work and on the weekends. I thought it might be helpful to show you just how versatile sweater dresses are, so I decided to show you how to style sweater dresses in two ways.

Are you struggling to keep your kids’ (or your own) snacking in check since we are all spending more time at home? I know this can be such a struggle for families. That’s why I wanted to share some tips with you for how to keep snack-time nutritious and yummy too. If this is an issue you’ve been having at home, here are three tips to keep snacking in check while your kids are home.

If you follow my fashion posts, you know I’m a major fan of sweater dresses. I post about them quite often, but I definitely still have room for another sweater dress in my closet. I recently got this winter white sweater dress for less than $30 and it’s one of my new favorites. If you still haven’t added sweater dresses to your wardrobe, here are 3 reasons why you should consider an ivory sweater dress.

It’s girl scout cookie season! My good friend from Arizona sent me an email asking me to support her daughter’s troop. Of course, I was happy to order (several) boxes to show my support, and because I LOVE girl scout cookies! What’s your favorite flavor? Mine is the thin mint cookies, by far. This year, I decided to try something new with one of the sleeves of cookies. I decided to make easy thin mint brownies. This is a semi-homemade recipe using thin mint cookies. I promise, these are so yummy! You need to try it for yourself.

As a curvy girl, one fashion trend I always avoid is the babydoll dress. They generally just don’t look very good on my figure because they lack shape. Since I have wide hips. babydoll dresses tend to look like a big tent on me. I need dresses that define my waistline, which is why I usually opt for a-line or wrap dresses.

When I was in college, St Patrick’s Day was one of my favorite holidays. I loved the excuse to go out and drink green beer and green long islands (yes really). Now that I have kids, St. Patrick’s day is much more about fun foods. That’s why I wanted to share 10 fun St. Patrick’s Day desserts.

A fun fashion trend that emerged in the fall and is still going strong is the two-toned clothing, or often called spliced. I think it’s a super fun trend because it’s so unexpected. Although I do think it will stick around this spring and summer, this is one of those trends that will be fleeting, I think.

The last year has been unexpected and difficult, yet it has also been beautiful. I never envisioned I would have to navigate parenting during a pandemic. So, I wanted to write a letter to my children, not only to thank you but to remind you just how proud I am of you.

I am obsessed with matching sweater and skirt sets. It’s one of my very favorite styles to wear because it is so comfortable yet really put together. Since I’m working at home, comfort is key. Yet, I also can’t live in sweats because I do participate in a lot of zoom calls (with the camera on;)). I’ve been obsessed with sweater dresses for a while because they are form-fitting, warm, stylish, AND comfortable.

I’ve been on such a major soup kick lately. I recently made this vegan carrot ginger soup as part of a 5-day vegan cleanse I did. The goal was simply to feel healthier after indulging a bit too much during my birthday in Mexico. This is the first time I’ve ever made carrot ginger soup. It was quite a simple process, although did take some time for cooking. I absolutely love ginger. I kept the recipe super clean and low-calorie and I also kept it vegan.

In November, I visited Denver for the first time. When I was in 6th grade, I traveled to Boulder, so I have experienced Colorado before. However, my memories of the state were foggy, at best. I remember the drive up to Pike’s Peak and was in awe of the beauty of the mountains.

It’s the end of January – which is also oatmeal month, so I had to share the best oatmeal chocolate chip cookies recipe. I used this oatmeal cookie recipe as the base for a lot of other recipes, including these oatmeal scotchies. If you don’t like chocolate, you can replace the chocolate chips with nuts, raisins, cranberries, white chocolate, peanut butter, or butterscotch chips.

If you had told me that in 2020 I’d go to Sitka Alaska, I would have said, “where?” Prior to July, I had never even heard of Sitka. One night, my dear friend called me and told me she and her family were considering moving to Sitka Alaska. I pictured giant glaciers and her family living in an igloo. Ok, not quite, but I definitely didn’t know what to expect. The moment my friend decided to move to Sitka, I told her I was coming to visit.

I recently got two pairs of embellished flats from Vita Grace and I’m in love. I found them in my Instagram feed and they are quickly becoming my favorite store for super feminine chic pieces. Although I normally prefer to wear heels or sneakers, I do like to have ballet flats in my rotation.

I’ve been on a major soup kick lately. It’s been cooler and rainy in LA a few times this month, so I stayed home and tried some new recipes. I recently made this Italian sausage and tortellini soup recipe and my whole family loved it. So I thought I’d try a vegan recipe this time. I’ve never tried 15 bean soup before, so I thought I’d give it a try. Instead of making mine with pork, like a lot of the recipes called for, I decided to make mine a vegan 15 bean soup recipe.

Although I’m still working from home this winter, I couldn’t pass up this gorgeous pearl embellished coat. I found it during the major winter sales at Shein for only $31! The coat is such nice quality and looks so much more expensive than it is. I’m such a fan of the pearl embellishments. Ironically, the dress I’m wearing underneath the coat is actually a two-piece dress set that has a pearl embellished sweater that you wear over the sweater dress.

Did you know January is oatmeal month? I love oatmeal all the ways. I eat it for breakfast several times a week. (Check out my hearty oatmeal pancakes, oatmeal breakfast cookies, or my baked oatmeal, perfect for weekly meal prep! 😉) Oatmeal cookies are one of my favorite types of cookies.

For my birthday this year, I wanted to do something big. Last year, I traveled to Scottsdale to visit my friend. We had an amazing time, but Scottsdale is almost like a second home. I lived there for 9 years, so I wanted to really shake it up this year. Puerto Vallarta immediately came to mind because it is a really short flight from LA. Yet, it feels like you’re in a completely different world when you get there. Plus, I had the most amazing time in Puerto Vallarta when I visited in 2019.

Sweater dresses and sweater sets are wardrobe staples for me this winter. They are so cozy and also forgiving if you’ve put on a few lbs. There are so many cute sweater dresses with a matching sweater. There are also cute skirt and sweater tops. One of the reasons I specifically love this black ripped dress and matching sweater is because the dress really hugs my figure.

It’s January, which for me meant it’s officially soup season! I love soup, but I don’t make it as often as I should. A family favorite is this slow cooker turkey chili, but I wanted to try something new. I’ve never made Italian sausage tortellini soup before, so I thought I’d give it a try.

Last weekend, I spent all day on Saturday at my friend Beth’s house baking cookies. Baking Christmas cookies is an annual tradition we both love, but we’ve never done it together. Since she is unable to travel home this year to bake with her family, as she usually does, I suggested we bake together.

How do you dress up for the holidays? I tend to wear festive dresses most of the time, but I prefer ones that are also comfortable. This long sleeve midi dress is perfect to wear during the holidays because it is stretchy and warm, but also super comfortable. If you’re looking for red midi dresses, I’m sharing some of my very favorites, all under $50.

If you’ve followed my blog, you probably know about my southern Italian heritage. I love to share traditional, modern, and the best Italian recipes on my blog as a way for me to connect with my heritage. I’ve had the chance to visit Rome, Florence, Naples, Positano, and Milan, so I love to explore the different regions through my cooking and baking. I was supposed to travel to Venice this past summer but had to postpone that trip due to the pandemic.

Are you the type of person who has one winter coat? Or do you have multiple? Growing up, my parents believed we should invest in one high-quality winter coat and wear it to death. I do still own one expensive, high-quality coat that I take to cold climates (like when I was in Seattle last Christmas). But, I also like to change it up and have other options.

Are you looking for the easiest Christmas cookies recipe ever? Then you need to make these snowball cookies with chocolate chips. It is seriously the quickest and yummiest recipe! I’m sure you’ve heard of Italian wedding cookies or snowball cookies. This is the same thing, except with chocolate chips in them! My Italian Wedding Christmas cookies recipe is one of my top-performing recipes, so if you don’t like chocolate, make sure to check that out.

Did you snag any of the amazing sales available during Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend? I definitely got quite a few goodies at Shein, including this cold shoulder sweater dress. There are so many amazing deals right now if you’re looking to add a few pieces to your wardrobe. I recently got this cold shoulder dress and I am in love. It is so soft in a sweater cozy material.

One of my very favorite things to do during the holidays is to bake. I love trying different cookies, cakes, bread, and bar recipes. Over the years, I’ve tried to find different Italian recipes as a way to learn more about my cultural heritage and feel a connection to my Italian roots. My grandparent immigrated to the U.S. before my dad was born. They died when I was quite young, so connecting to my heritage through food and travel is how I’ve tried to make that connection. This Italian fig cookies recipe is the newest in a line of Italian recipes I’ve made lately.

When quarantine hit, the thing that shocked me the most was how much I missed going to the gym. I’ve always been a gym-goer, but only begrudgingly.

If there is one fashion trend that I absolutely love right now, it’s matching sweatsuits for women. The last time I personally remember sweatsuits being this popular, I was in elementary school. Sure, there’s been periods where Adidas pants or Nike pants are super trendy. I definitely had two pairs of Adidas pants in college that were on constant rotation. But the monochromatic, totally matching sweatsuits I haven’t rocked since I was a little girl.

It’s gourd season and I’m excited! I picked up an acorn squash and decided I should try making stuffed acorn squash.

For the last 6 months, I’ve had a giant box of honey nut Cheerios in my pantry. Although my kids do love Cheerios, it usually isn’t their first choice. I’ve kept the pantry too full, so they opt for one of their other favorites instead of the Cheerios. Thus, I needed to find a way to get them eaten, so I decided to make marshmallow cheerio treats.

What do you normally wear to Thanksgiving? I like to dress up for the meal part. I tend to wear sweats while I’m prepping, but I do like to put on something nice for the actual meal. If you’re looking for affordable Thanksgiving or holiday outfit Ideas, this silver metallic skirt is a perfect choice.

I decided to try going vegan for a week. I’m on day 4. So far, it’s actually much easier than I imagined. I’ve already noticed my digestion has improved dramatically and I have also noticed less food cravings. The one thing about any healthy eating program – you have to get used to cooking a lot more. Plus, meal prepping takes the guess work out of what you’re going to eat each day, so you’re a lot more likely to stay on track.

If you don’t already own faux leather joggers, this is the post for you. I’m pretty obsessed with the jogger trend, honestly. It is so comfortable, but can still look really put together. Vegan leather joggers help to elevate what can be a very casual look.

This was my first trip to Denver. I visited Boulder when I was a child, but that was a long time ago. When my friend XOXO Terri told me she was heading to Denver, I asked her if I could meet her there. Our friend, the Travel Mom, suggested we stay at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center. Thankfully, the Gaylord Rockies in Denver agreed to host us.

One of my favorite fall fashion staples is sweater dresses. That’s why I decided I should also try out sweater two piece sets. I wasn’t sure that sweater sets would work on me since I thought the skirts in sweater material would be too clingy. I was pleasantly surprised that they worked even better than I imagined. These matching sweater skirt sets are a new wardrobe staple for me and I think you should try them too.

Have you ever made scones before? I know it might seem complicated, but I’m telling you, it is so easy! This orange scone recipe took me less than 20 minutes to make. Scones are super straight-forward baking, even for super novice bakers. The other great thing about this particular recipe is that you can use any type of citrus or you could even swap out the orange for another fruit if you don’t like orange flavoring.

I’ve never owned a winter vest. Honestly, I never thought they worked on my curvy frame. But then, I saw this adorable shearling and plaid one by Adyson Parker, and I had to try it. Given my experience, I assumed other people might want to know more about options and styling tips for winter vests for women, so here goes.

One of the coolest things about visiting Sitka Alaska was getting to learn the history of this tiny island. Prior to arriving, I didn’t do much research on the place. I’ve always been a fan of history. When I travel, one of my goals is to really learn about the place and it’s culture. Sitka has a really interesting story, so I was excited to get to learn more about it while visiting the Sitka National Historical Park – also known as Totem Park.

Slip dresses are one again popular this fall. They’ve been back in style for a few seasons, but the styling feels extra 90s this time around. Since slip dresses seem to be here to stay, I decided I should share some of my favorite ways to style my newest animal print slip dress. I’m also sharing some of my favorite picks at affordable prices.

Have you taken advantage of the Amazon Prime Day deals yet? There are so many amazing deals. If you haven’t thought of Amazon as a place to buy clothing, you should think about it. They have so many cute options at really affordable prices. The sweater dress I’m wearing is actually old, but I linked to several other Amazon sweater dresses that are equally as cute and for super affordable prices.

If you had told me that in 2020 I’d do Sitka Alaska whale watching in September, I would have said, “huh, where?” Prior to July, I had never even heard of Sitka. One night, my dear friend called me and told me she and her family were considering moving to Sitka Alaska. I pictured giant glaciers and her family living in an igloo. Ok, not quite, but I definitely didn’t know what to expect. The moment my friend decided to move to Sitka, I told her I was coming to visit.

I’ve made a lot of apple recipes over the years. You can check out my apple recipes here. But I haven’t tried baking with pears. It is pear season, so I thought I’d try to find a really easy recipe that still looks elevated. That’s why this simple pear cake recipe is perfect. It is honestly the easiest recipe ever. It’s totally fool-proof and you can substitute apples if you don’t have pears.

My mail-in ballot arrived the other day. As I opened it, I thought what a great opportunity it was to talk about voting with kids. I hadn’t yet talked to my kids about the election. I overheard them mention something about Donald Trump, which I assumed they’d heard on the news. As of yet, I have not talked to my kids about politics whatsoever. They do not know anything about my beliefs and we hadn’t covered anything about voting. When my ballot arrived, I changed all of that.

One of my favorite fall jackets is a denim jacket. This year, my new favorite is this cropped black denim jacket. I love denim jackets for fall because they are hefty enough to withstand the cooler evenings. In Los Angeles, the days can be really hot (we’ve had 80+ the last week), but nights can feel chilly, especially by the beach.

Is flying safe during COVID? I don’t have a crystal clear answer for you – it’s more nuanced than that. But I can tell you that there are ways to be safer than not, so I wanted to share my experience with you.

What do you do when you get a fast-fashion piece of clothing and you just aren’t feeling it? Most of the time, I bet you return it. But sometimes, it actually can cost more to return the item than just to keep it.

Who else is excited about pumpkin spice season? It’s the most pumpkiny time of the year! The weather in LA is not very fall-like, but this is the best time for baking if you ask me. I love pumpkin spice baking recipes most of all. There is something so nostalgic about pumpkin spice flavors. Looking back on all of the posts I’ve written in the last 7 years, I realized I am kind of obsessed with pumpkin spice recipes. I have more than a dozen pumpkin spice recipes, but today I’m sharing my 8 favorite pumpkin spice baking recipes.

If you’re a working parent or a stay at home parent who now also has teacher duties, I bet you’re feeling strapped for time, likely low on energy, and generally like you don’t have enough me-time. Can you relate? My kids are distance learning this school year.

When my friends at the Okayest Moms asked me to be on their podcast, of course, I said yes! I met Brittany and Heather a year ago at the Beaches Social Media on the Sand Conference. We clicked right away because they are so much fun and don’t take themselves seriously. They are funny and real, especially when it comes to motherhood. Click below to listen to the Okayest Moms Podcast.

Working moms who are also teaching your kids at home – I see you. Stay at home moms who are also now homeschooling your kids – I see you. This year has been a challenge for all of us moms. Prior to this year, we were used to wearing a lot of different hats and juggling lots of responsibilities. But this year, taking on the role of teacher or teacher’s aid has been a major hurdle a lot of us never planned to face. That’s why it’s more important than ever that we focus on finding balance. I thought it might be helpful to share 5 tips for how to take time for yourself – whether your job is at home or outside of the home.

Fall is my favorite season for the weather and for baking. I love to bake with apples so I thought I would share my 5 apple recipes for fall I would make again.

The summer to fall transition in California is different than a lot of places. It is still relatively warm during the day, but the evenings cool off a lot. That’s why layering is so important. Since it’s starting to feel like fall in a lot of places, I thought I’d share my 5 fall wardrobe essentials to take you from summer to fall with ease. I’ve been thinking about a fall capsule wardrobe, so these are a few of the pieces I plan to include.

Halloween may look quite different this year, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be special. Halloween doesn’t have to be canceled this year, we just need to shift our focus. My kids won’t be trick or treating in our neighborhood, but we are still going to make an at home Halloween extra special this year. I pulled some of my favorite Halloween ideas so you can make your family’s Halloween special too.

When in doubt, I always choose red clothes. Red is one of my favorite colors for a lot of reasons. It’s fun, vibrant, and it energizes to your look. Red is also a powerful color. It draws attention and exudes authority. I personally think red is a color that looks great on most people. It works especially well on my olive undertones. If you like red, this is the post for you. I’m sharing all of my current favorite red knee length dresses under $30.

If there is one thing I miss because of COVID, besides seeing my family, it is traveling. I had many trips planned for this past spring and summer that I canceled. Although travel is allowed, I’m trying to limit my travel because I think it is the best decision for public health and my family’s health. I have done a few local/regional trips around Southern California, however.

I’ve been obsessed with the Starbucks bacon gruyere egg bites for a while now. Before quarantine, I used to go to Starbucks several times a week for a change of scenery. I’ve worked from home since 2018, so going to Starbucks was my home office away from home.

When I noticed the Kardashians rocking biker shorts a couple of seasons ago, I really didn’t think it was a trend I’d get on. Honestly, my thighs have always been an area of my body I try to hide. They are big and they are wide, so I usually opt for flowy a-line dresses or slimming black pants, instead. But this summer I decided it was time to finally try the biker shorts trend. I shared 3 ideas for how to style biker shorts on my TikTok account, so I thought I’d share them here as well.

A few weeks ago, I bought a few jars of marshmallow creme so I could make edible slime with my kids. That was a huge hit, but I ended up buying too many jars. Since I had the marshmallow creme on hand, I decided to seek out a recipe so I could use it. That’s why I decided to create these peanut butter banana bread fluffernutter muffins.

One of my favorite styles of dresses are midi dresses. I personally find the length very flattering and sexy. I often talk about how less can be more. There is no need to show your entire body off to be sexy. You can be sexy by dressing more subtly. That’s why I love this polka dot midi dress so much. I think it’s super sexy, but also very covered.

I’ve gotten super spoiled. Prior to 2019, I had only been to Disneyland 1 time when I was six. Then, I moved to LA and last and prior to COVID, I think I’ve been about 10 times. I LOVE Disneyland. It really is a magical place. I feel like a kid every time I get to go and experience the fun through my children’s eyes. Just one week before COVID quarantine started, I was able to attend the Disney Food and Wine Festival with my sister, who was visiting.