That's a Wrap!

{Blogged with leftover Easter candy} My dear forgotten and ignored readers!  It's been a while since a current blog post went up and I feel terrible! Sometimes life gets a hold of you and this is one of those times- my husband's family has been in town, work is bonkers and this pregnancy is causing me to tip over on the couch, fully snoozing at hours much earlier than I'm used to! Hoping to turn the corner and get back to normal soon!!

This is such a gorgeous wrap dress- I'm not used to loving them so much. Usually, I fuss with wrap anything- they seem to come undone and look sloppy and I just don't like them. But this one from Nordstrom is the cutest- roomy, comfy, stays closed when it should and I love the long length.  It helps (me anyway) during the overall strangeness that goes on with your body when you are pregnant to feel girly and pretty and feminine. And let's just talk about how important that all is!! Very!! And I am one of those weirdos that loves to wear heels- they never hurt and I don't know, I just feel more like me in them.  Does that make sense?  

So, I am officially starting to dismantle my guest bedroom-- soon to be the baby's room-- and start the decorating process! And I can't wait to share it here with you! I am the pickiest person and have the hardest time deciding on things, but I am working on it! I really am!! Hope your Monday was beautiful, dearest reader and thank you so much for stopping by! Sweetly, Michelle

Dress || Shoes || Glasses

Windowpane, Wine (Color) and Ten Things About Me

{Written with a bag of Swedish Fish on my lap after a long day of Christmas decorating}  Well hi loves! Can you believe our holiday weekend is over?  I look forward to it for so long and on Wednesday afternoon, I'm like " I have four whole days off. FOUR whole days off" and then whoosh. Hello Sunday night...you are here.  I hope you all had a wonderful holiday with your families.

This little set just called out to me when I saw it.  The color is great, its roomy (the skirt has POCKETS!) and how about those heels? Strappy? High heeled? Patent leather? Um, yes please.   Everything is linked below for you so feel free to shop away (and it's all still Thanksgiving weekend 40% off sale)!

I felt inspired by a few people lately who have shared more about themselves and I loved it so much that it made me want to do the same.  I am a talker, so this list could easily stretch on forever, but here we go:

1.  The qualities I admire most in others are humor, compassion and integrity.  If you can laugh with me, we are pretty much guaranteed to be friends because I am extremely silly and I love to laugh.  The quality I admire most in myself is that I try really hard to be a great friend. I take friendship seriously and if we are friends, I will probably be your friend forever.  Once someone is in my circle, I am loyal and I will stand up for them and listen and care and just be there through the ups and downs of life.  I say find your tribe and hold them close.

2. Along those same lines, family is everything to me.  I have a big extended family and there is no place that isn't made better when they are with me.  My mom is my best friend, my grandmother my closest confidant and I am blessed beyond measure for the strong women in my life.   

3.  I am sunset and cloud obsessed. My phone is full of pictures that I take pretty much everyday. For some reason, these things really touch me. I am awed by it.  When in doubt, always look up.  Mother Nature rarely disappoints.

4. I am fueled by sugar. I know, I know. Its terrible. I get that. But there is apparently a long distance between my brain and my mouth because I just shovel it in.  I am all about gummi things and not so much about chocolate. Like brownies and really dense chocolate things? No. But peanut M&M's? Completely acceptable. Chocolate bars (dark or milk?) Yes and yes.  Frozen yogurt (with rainbow sprinkles), cotton candy, cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies...all yes.  I have the sweetest sweet tooth ever! 

5. I love to read. I will literally read anything, but I like things that I can grapple with and think about. I also really like history- I read a lot of biographies (Winston Churchill is my BOY!) and books about the World Wars.  I am a believer that there is a lot we can learn from our past.

6.  I also love cities. I love the ability to toss on a backpack and a pair of jeans and just explore and see and learn.  I am a very curious person and I love seeing how people in other cities or countries live. I love America but I also love our world. If I could quit my job tomorrow (and like, still feed and dress myself - emphasis on dress😉) I would see everything I could.

7.  I have never been drunk. Can you believe it? I don't like the way alcohol tastes! Weird, I know but I am giggly and loose just normally. When you are drunk, chances are we will act exactly the same (which might say more about me than you, come to think of it)...

8.  I love Disneyland. I have had an annual pass forever.  I can go everyday and never get tired of it. I love fast rides and roller coasters, and the innocence and come on!!  See # 4 above.  Its a food bonanza every time!

9.  For some reason, song lyrics stick in my head. I can hear a song once and the melody and lyrics just stick.  Music and songs are a big part of my life. 

10.  This one is a hard one for me to write, because I don't really talk about it.  My brother-- my favorite person on the planet, the funniest, kindest, most handsome person I have ever known- passed away suddenly and it changed me forever.  When someone you adore is gone in a blink, your attitude toward what is important and what isn't is altered forever.  I embrace each day, I look for the good, I try to appreciate everything and I just try to remember that nothing is guaranteed, especially tomorrow. Take chances, follow your heart, forgive easily and laugh as much as you can, because this is a quick journey my friends.

11. (see? I knew I couldn't just stop at 10) I love dogs. I will pet and cuddle and grab for any dog I see. I love all animals but dogs especially.  Even mangy ones get big hugs and kisses from me.

12. (last one) Motherhood. The best thing to ever happen to me.  My heart has opened wide and filled with so much love.  It is an indescribable feeling and a love like no other.  

 That's all for now my loves.  As always, thank  you so much for stopping by.  It means the world...Sweetly, Michelle

Shirt || Skirt || Shoes || 

One Day At a Time

{Dictated from the car while inching along the 405 freeway} Doesn't it sometimes feel like Groundhog Day? Like, about 15 minutes ago, it was Friday and here we are again tiptoeing into Thursday! It is crazy sometimes how fast time flies by. If you're anything like me, you could really use a few more hours in the day.  Let me tell you about my next 2 days.... tomorrow I will begin the day at my daughter's school for a costume parade and a little Halloween potluck because I am the room mom. And I absolutely love doing this with her and would not trade it for the world. Then I will race off to work because in the afternoon we are playing hallway golf. We do this a few times a year, where we close the office a little early, everyone pairs up and makes golf holes in the hallway in front of their office and we putt, booze and eat (and booze. My office runs on booze!) . We are doing Halloween themed holes – – my hole is going to be My Little Pony themed- how cute is that? My male hole- making partner isn't crazy about this. But since I'm the one that hustled around buying everything (figures) he can zip it!! On Halloween, all of the neighborhood kids are going to play games, decorate Halloween cookies and do crafts before we have a little chili potluck together and then trick-or-treat. For some reason, this is my personality and I plan the heck out of most events. I believe in celebrating everything and wherever and whenever possible, have people together for a party!  l like to bring everyone together even though it causes me crazy amounts of stress. What can we do about this? Our lives are never going to get any less busy, especially as families expand and more activities get added into the weekly rotation.  I have a few thoughts as to how we can handle this (definitely not applicable during the holiday season when all bets are off) and I would love to hear your tips and tricks too:

1. Limit Activities:  In everyday, non-holiday life, I try to commit to only one event per weekend day. When I have to go from a breakfast, then straight to a lunch, and then to an afternoon activity, the rush and the lack of down time makes me crazy.  If I limit myself to no more than one event per day, it seems to keep things a little more balanced.  I also try as much as possible to limit (non-client or firm management related)  weeknight activities too, because it seems to snowball.  A few late nights and I am dragging around by Friday.  And you parents know-- there is just no time to catch up on your sleep or take a nap. Yeah...not so much.  Again, we are getting into the holiday season and there is just no getting around parties and late nights. Maybe I will do another post soon about how to keep our energy up (and our sanity!) during this crazy time!

2.  Split Up Errands:  Because daily life is so hectic, and unless I am meeting with clients, I usually eat lunch at my desk so that I can work through the lunch hour.  I am not one of those people that needs to get outside and for me,  it's all about the billable hour.  Whatever I don't bill during the day, I have to bill when my daughter goes to sleep later that night--ugh. However, it is sometimes helpful to take an hour during a weekday and check some errand off of the list--make a Target or a Costco run or something else that might typically take up valuable time on the weekend.  Same thing for laundry- instead of staring down multiple loads on the weekend, I will try to do a load or two during the week. It just seems to help a little and I don't really mind sitting on the floor, folding clothes and watching Ladies of London on some random weeknight. Wayyy ok by me!

3. Online Shopping is Your Friend: Another thing that I find to be super helpful is to shop as much as possible online (not just shoes and clothes,but like, real stuff!)  When I first had my daughter, I ordered all of her things off of diaper.com. It's the bomb.  It now has all sorts of other spin-off websites -- soap.com and wag.com. Soap.com is like Target. You can get household and cleaning supplies, paper towels, toothpaste, shaving cream, vitamins- whatever.  I think if you order by noon, it will be to you the next day- hello?   Why wouldn't you use this? That is super convenient. I haven't done too much comparison-shopping to see if the prices are way higher but they don't seem to be.  Wag.com is all pet related, so that deletes the Petco run from your list (that reminds me-- I also use a mobile dog groomer.  It eliminates the need to make and take your four legged babies to a grooming appointment because THEY COME TO YOU!)

4. Plan Ahead:  I get overwhelmed when I have nagging " I need to make a dentist appointment"  items on my mind. I try to schedule all my appointments as early as possible.  When I am leaving my cleaning appointment at the dentist, I make my next appointment right then for six months out.  It takes a little item off of my plate and I'm able to plan my schedule so that I can actually make that future appointment. I do the same thing with my hair, my optometrist, the vet, everything.  It also keeps you on track with your health (bonus!)  When I know some appointment needs to be made in a short time frame, it causes me way more stress to try and squeeze in an appointment when my own schedule is packed, rather than have it on my calendar months in advance.  I apply this same philosophy to time with friends too--I have a group of 5 girls and for the past 10 years, we meet every two months.  We rotate who gets to choose what we do- sometimes its a concert, sometimes its horseback riding,  a play or brunch-- it kind of doesn't matter to us as long as we are together. But when we are leaving an event, we pull out our calendars and we pick a date for the next one.  If we don't do it right then, the days fill up and we won't see each other. You know? Girl time is sacred but its hard to squeeze it in to life sometimes, and so we need to plan!

5.  Find Time for You: I think everyday, you need to try to find a little time for you.  Whether it's exercise, a little time to journal, a little time to read, a little bath, whatever makes you happy.  For me, I take a bath every night rain or shine – and with this drought, it's only in a tiny little bit of water– – and just shut the world out. I read a book while in the bath and relax, sometimes only for 10 minutes.  And that is my little treat.  Even 10 minutes will calm your stress a little bit, I think.  Just something to reset your mind and feel content. 

I suppose my biggest suggestion regarding time management is to just try and be as organized as you can. Which is sometimes not possible because we are human beings, not robots, and on those days, just go with it. Cut yourself some slack. If you can't do it all, that's OK.  We are all doing the best we can and if the clothes pile up, you need to cancel some event to go flop on the couch or whatever- its okay.  Right? Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.  What do you think?  What else do you do that helps? I'd love to heat it!

So can I just tell you how much I adore this outfit? It is the most wonderful material. Again, I bought a ton of things from CAbis fall 2015 line and these two pieces were included. The Claire dress is stretchy and non-wrinkly.  The blouse is sheer and so great to layer. The blouse has very delicate trim along the front that would also look cute under a blazer and a pencil skirt. I really don't think you can go wrong with a silhouette in these colors. It is appropriate for just about anything, right? All right dearest friends, I hope your day is terrific. As always, thank you so much for your comments and for stopping by. It really and sincerely means the world. ❤️❤️❤️Sweetly- Michelle

Dress || Shirt|| Shoes || Bag  

Date Night!

{Written while looking for pumpkin-themed crafts for the non-crafty (me!) on Pinterest}  My dear readers who are parents know how absolutely exciting and sacred date night can be.  It can feel like a holiday to take a little break from the rigors of everyday life--in my case involving two very busy working parents-- and just relax a little.   Sometimes it can tend to feel like too much pressure to plan something ahhmazing.  You feel compelled to take these 3 or 4 hours and cram in every little thing you've been wanting to do-- Dinner! Movies! Walk around Laguna! Watch stuff on the DVR! Shop! (this suggestion only comes from me😉)  And then you feel alternately like maybe you ought to take this rare window of child free time and be productive ... Grocery shop!  Laundry! Closet organizing!  Here is something I've learned about "date night"-- the wheres and the whats don't matter.  You are together and so long as you focus on each other, no matter what you are doing, it will be perfect.  We have at least one date night set aside every month where we get dressed up and sometimes, we will go to a Cinepolis (those movie theaters that serve dinner and coffee and like, warm cookies!) and we can sit next to each other, whisper a little, and get a dinner and a movie in simultaneously (I'm all about time management!) and after, grab a little fro yo and call it a night.  And that works for us.  Sometimes, my daughter might be with her grandparents for a few hours and we will just order dinner in, and watch a movie on the couch with no phone or social media interruptions.   Once my daughter goes to sleep during the week, we might have 2 hours max of time together ( and we both have laptops on our lap working :( before we head upstairs to bed  and we actually spend most of that talking.  (Well. I talk, and talk and talk and talk. He listens!)   So for us, date night is not as much about communicating (because we do a pretty good job at that) as it is an opportunity to shut the laptop, put down our phones and be a couple.    On Friday night, for example, we went after work and looked at the outside of a new house we are thinking about and then sat at dinner afterwards over Mexican food and mapped out all of the things we wanted to do it and how to decorate- which was so so fun!  What makes you and your love happy and content and fulfilled? Anything that makes you feel like a couple, a team, a unit, a family is so healthy, I believe. Just do it.  The feelings matter more than the place.. . and I love that.  I'm a person who thrives and blossoms in a team-type environment (I play doubles tennis, and I work at a large firm because I enjoy collaborating and strategizing and brainstorming) and marriage, with its ups and downs and in betweens, is an institution I have grown to respect and admire and love.  But it's work and you work at it. And I also think the longer you are married, the smoother things become.

The other problem we find is that family  time is precious and sometimes, we don't really want to leave our daughter on the weekends. But I've realized that I am happier and more content when I strike a balance – – when I find time for me, time for my family, and then time for my husband and I.  And I suppose that is what I would like to impart to you, dearest reader-- to try and ignore what everyone else is doing and to find your own brand of happiness.   Whatever that might be, it is just right. Right?  Give time to each other-- focused and uninterrupted-- and it will always be worth it!

So about this look... This little skirt I am wearing is from Red Fox Clothes and I bought it from their cute little boutique in Corona del Mar. Thank goodness it's still going to be hot for a while because it's adorable. It's the softest cotton and so comfy. I've had this one shoulder tank top forever and I brought along this long cashmere cardigan that I bought about four years ago and wear all the time. I'm telling you, investment pieces (when done right) really will last forever.  And this bag is my Riveter bag (which I posted about on Instagram) that is made by spouses of active US military, using recycled parts from tents and other material. I have equal parts compassion and pride for our military families and there is not much I wouldn't do for them!  Alright dearests, hope your weekend is incredible! Thank you for stopping by, as always! It truly means the world! Sweetly, Michelle 

Skirt: Here || Top (similar): Here || Shoes:  || Sweater: Here|| Purse: ||