Too Much Tryptophan | Thanksgiving Recap

We can all blame what felt like a truck load of turkey this weekend for our comatose state, but I for one kind of enjoyed the slower pace. Thanksgiving 2014 is officially over. It's always bittersweet to see another holiday come and go, but with Christmas around the corner I'm feeling anything but sad! 

Here is a quick recap of our Thanksgiving in pictures:

 It doesn't get much better than this! Would you just look at Hudson's expression? Savvy on the other hand...

 There's my girl.

My look: Dress no longer available, similar HERE + HERE | Shoes no longer available, similar HERE | Sunglasses | Watch

Hudson's look: Shirt no longer available, similar HERE | Shorts, no longer available, similar HERE | Moccs (on sale!) | Sunglasses no longer available, similar HERE

 Savvy's look: Dress | Faux Fur Vest | Shoes (gold no longer available) similar HERE | Sunglasses no longer available, we love THESE too!

How was your Thanksgiving? Did you do anything special to show thanks? I'd love to hear from you!

Xo,

T.

Give Thanks

This Thanksgiving lets remember to...

Rejoice Always.

Pray without ceasing. 

Give thanks in all circumstances. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

...and eat plenty of dessert! I'm a cookie girl, how about you? Who am I kidding, I'm an any dessert type of girl. But for real, I'm so thankful for you and the time you take each day to read my blog. It truly means the world. 

Xo,

T.

I Like Big Buns

 ...and I cannot lie! So this bun is slightly out of control, which I clearly didn't know until photographing it in all its glory. In a weird way I actually kind of like it. But that's not what we're here to talk about today. Today I want to talk about this amazing sweater and it's ability to transform any summer dress in to the perfect California fall ensemble. The booties add that same season appropriate (and comfortable!) vibe I needed to complete this look. It's pretty well known that I often pick up what Suo Boutique puts down, but they are killing it in the light and easy to style sweater department right now. 

Outfit: Dress: unavailable, similar HERE | Sweater: c/o Suo Boutique | Boots | Bag | Sunglasses | Watch 

Xo,
T.

For The Love of Color + Christmas

Have you seen the glorious selection of colorful Christmas goodies at Anthropologie lately? I was so inspired by my recent trip this past weekend where I peeped all of it in person. Their holiday window display is so gorgeous and fueling my new found love of swans. (Don't ask!) 

These stockings, wreath, and tree topper are making me feel all festive up in here. It's literally out of control. In the weeks to come I'll be sharing my own version of a colorful Christmas through our decor, so stay tuned! 

Below is the church/shopping look I sported Sunday. 

Outfit: Dress | Blazer | Boots | Bag | Sunglasses | Watch | Earrings 

Xo,

T. 

Workout Wear | Holiday Style

Nothing says casual holiday style like bright red Nike kicks. JCrew knew what they were doing (per usual) when they coerced me in to buying shoes I thought I'd wear maybe 5.7 times. Turns out, it was probably the best purchase I've made in a while. Need to run errands all over town? No problem. Rushing from the preschool to the park? Done and done. When comfort is key (which is pretty much on the daily) I whip these out and pair them with workout wear and a dolman tee for the perfect errand running ensemble. 

Outfit: Top: c/o Suo Boutique | Bottom, TJ Maxx find, similar HERE + HERE | Shoes: color was limited edition, similar HERE and different shoes with that same touch of red HERE | Bag | Sunglasses | Watch 

Xo,
T.

Picture Day

Savannah's school pictures are back and I just can't believe how big my girl is getting. Looking at these pictures it's hard to believe she is only three and a half. This is obviously pre-bangs, and you can see why I wanted to give her a style to keep her little! 

Whether I like it or not, the years are flying by. As a gift for Savannah I've secretly asked her teachers to write a little note in this Dr. Seuss book at the end of the school year, and it's my plan to continue this all the way through high school. I think it would be such a sweet gift come graduation, and something I hope she will really cherish. And if she doesn't get down with that sort of thing, I'll happily take it off her hands for "safe keeping," aka - good reading material with my Ben and Jerry's and box of tissues for when she goes off to college. Sorry. That got out of control real quick. I'll put the tissues back for now, but I'm keeping the Triple Caramel Chunk.  

Book | Zara dress: unavailable, similar HERE | Bow: unavailable, similar HERE | Clock

Xo,

T.

Thankful

I don't know about you, but I'm doing my very best to fight back the strong urge to roll out Christmas.  I sneak in a festive song here and there, but for the most part I want to make sure I focus on being thankful, and not skipping over the importance of Thanksgiving...no matter how much I want to put up our tree.

Christmas has so many fun traditions that make the holiday special, something to really look forward to each year. I want Thanksgiving to hold that same excitement and sense of tradition for Savannah and Hudson. Serving the homeless Thanksgiving morning was a tradition my parents started for us, and something I would love to recreate for my babes as they get older. I also love the idea of a thankful jar, where each day the babes can write or draw one thing they are thankful for leading up until Thanksgiving. Do you have any fun traditions that center around service or being thankful? I'd love to hear how you celebrate and show gratitude.

 Outfit: Top: old, similar HERE | Skirt | Jacket | Shoes | Bag: unavailable online, similar HERE + HERE | Sunglasses | Watch | Chain ring | Threadbare ring

Note my mini blogette taking pics above, bottom left corner. I seriously love her. 

Xo,

T.

Bottle That Up

Those faces. That excitement. I wish I could find a way to bottle that up and save it for a rainy day...

Join me tomorrow for more play date fun, plus one of my new favorite casual looks with outfit details. See you then!

{Ps. Happy birthday Mom!}

Xo,

T.

Morning Coffee

Morning! Homemade coffee will always serve as my day to day fuel, but I seriously love me some Starbucks. As in, it's literally becoming a problem. I. Gotta. Have. It. 

My favorite drink is a grande iced coffee with 2% milk and sweetener. I've also really gotten in to buying the evolution cold pressed juices (I like the "defense up" flavor) and having it blended with ice and a banana. It's amazing, organic, and a great start to any day. Do you have a go to order? I'd love to hear your favorite coffee or otherwise. 

Outfit: Top: c/o Suo Boutique | Pants | Shoes (runs small, I ordered a half size up.) | Watch

Xo,
T.

Simple Suggestion

Welcome back! Recently I feel like everyone I talk to is going through a difficult time. Facebook seems inundated with posts about people experiencing hard stuff. Friends I talk with are sharing some serious hardships. Do you guys notice this trend in your conversations and on social media too? I'm not saying people are complaining or worse, shamelessly fishing for sympathy or attention. Quite the opposite actually, I feel like there is genuine outreach happening and in turn, I've seen some really supportive responses. How does that quote go? "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." #truethat

I want to give you a little unsolicited yet practical advice someone wise once shared with me. Her thoughts have really helped me in my own situation. She said you can't necessarily change what's going on, but if you change just one of your thoughts, feelings, or behaviors the other two will follow. 

I really admire the idea of being capable of changing just one component, and therefore your life in such a tangible way. I hope this is something you can use to help reframe the way you look at or approach a battle you may be going through. And if not, there's always Patron. (*wink.)

Outfit: Sweater | Distressed denim jacket | Floral track pants: old, similar HERE + HERE | Shoes | Glasses | Earrings | Bracelet: no longer available, similar HERE | Watch

Xo,
T.

Beauty Routine

(A plan to help you feel confident in front of the camera by the time you hit 30.)

It's no secret that the beauty routine you did during your 20's isn't going to cut it once you turn the big three-oh. Let's be real, how many 20 somethings have an actual routine? At 29 (and a half) I've been doing some thinking. Your 20's are hard. My 20's were hard. For most (myself included) it can be the best and most difficult period of your life. The stress of so many firsts tend to show up on your grill. Even the great times, and some of my sunniest days still mean a few more dark spots and tiny laugh lines. Two huge blessings ultimately resulted in more than a couple bags (of the carry on variety) under my eyes. But I'm not naming names...

In all seriousness, I hope to age gracefully and still remain stylish and beautiful just as my Mom has. However, I have a sneaking suspicion I lean more towards that of Regina George's mom.     (Cocktails anyone?)

Having said that, I truly believe beauty comes from the inside. You can't harbor bitterness and expect to look youthful and vibrant. The first step in feeling and looking fabulous at thirty is a happy heart. Let go of past hurt or anger and make the decision to choose happiness all day erryday. Since that is easier said than done, always turn to the Lord and He will bring you joy in the midst of your ____ (fill in the blank).

Second, you need to get healthy. You know the drill: exercise, drink lots of water, and eat as clean as possible. Oh, and treat yourself too. Who can feel happy and therefore look beautiful if you are depriving yourself? Not this girl.

Finally my beauty routine! I was pretty much a wash and spot treat when necessary type of girl, up until this last year. Somewhere along the line I decided it was time to start a real routine.

So what do you do when you don't really know where to begin? Consult the experts. I hightailed it straight to Nordstrom, quickly followed up by a visit to my Sephora. I also spent an ample amount of time researching the products and reviews at home. And because I am a ride or die drugstore girl I also stopped by Target to purchase a few staples. If you are interested in seeing what I ended up with, in addition to checking out out a few of my tried and true favorites, keep reading!

1. Moisturizer: 

Day: Mac studio moisture cream. 
Night: Cetaphil moisturizing cream, for dry/sensitive skin. 

Make your moisturizer game strong. Hydration is key.

2. Eye cream:

Mario Badescu hyaluronic eye cream.

Eye cream is the key to looking fresh. Tip: store it in the refrigerator for a refreshing application.

3. Sunscreen:

Face: Hawaiian Tropic silk hydration face.

Oil free lotion style sunscreen. 12 hour broad spectrum SPF 30. 

Smells. So. Good. 

Body: Sun Bum SPF 50.

Say it with me...SPF on the daily. Bonus, I also use it on the babes.

4. Face wash:

Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser for all skin types.

Really mild formula. I would recommend a wipe first to remove most makeup. 
Tip: use THIS handheld pore cleansing pad for a deep clean. Obsessed. 

5. Exfoliator: 

Neutrogena blackhead eliminating scrub. 
Getting rid of dead skin is essential for a bright complexion. 

6. Acne treatment (yes, unfortunately I still need this):

Mario Badescu drying lotion. 
How I lived most of my life without this product is a travesty. 

What are your ride or die products? Is there a step I may have missed? Leave your comment in the section below. Thanks again for reading and supporting what I do. I love each of you, and appreciate your time!

Xo,

T.

Waffles anyone?

Good morning! Today I wanted to quickly share a few of my new favorite things...if you haven't tried this candle from Bath and Bodyworks, you are missing out! It's delicious without being too much. (Necklace from from Forever21)

Have a great day and remember, it's almost the weekend! 

Xo,

T.

Pretty Little Layers

This outfit and day was hard to photograph (insert Hudson napping on me, crazy hot "Fall" weather, Savvy tired and ready for lunch, etc.) but I love these pictures almost more than any we've taken for the blog so far. It's not often I get the opportunity to have Hudson fall asleep on me, and when I look at these photos it makes me want to keep him like this forever. Minus the early mornings and cutting teeth part. 

On a totally unrelated note, everyone needs a sleeveless sweater/cardi like this one. The dress I'm wearing has a really cute low scoop back, and the addition of this layer made it church appropriate. Plus, it's light enough so you get that season appropriate look without the added degrees. Win!

My outfit: Dress: SUO Boutique (no longer available) similar HERE | Vest/cardi: similar HERE | Shoes: no longer available, love THESE | Watch | Sunnies

Savvy's outfit: Dress, similar winter style option HERE | Mocks

Hudson's outfit: Shirt | Shorts: Carters, no longer available | Moccs

Xo,
T.