FOUR LOOKS AND LIFE UPDATES

FOUR LOOKS AND LIFE UPDATES

Hello, everyone! I hope you all are doing well and enjoying the first bits of summer. I don’t know why, but it doesn’t feel like summer to me yet (probably because I don’t have school-age kids anymore). I am, however, on my way to Ojai Valley as I start to write this, and maybe this quick trip will make me feel like it is. I haven’t had time lately to meet with my photographer (she’s traveling a lot, too) or give you all a real good life update. Do these kinds of photos work, or do you all prefer more professional looks?

Before I talk about these looks, let me give a few life updates. The first one is about my gluteal tendonopathy. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I’ve been dealing with hip and butt cheek pain for the last two years. I’ve done everything from dry needling, cupping, acupuncture, to two procedures (Tenex and a PRP injection, both extremely painful!), and PT. Recently, the doctor I’ve been seeing sent me to a surgeon. My husband and I met with him this last week, and I had two MRI’s on Thursday. One for my back and the other for my hip. I will find out the results any day. I’m now hoping it’s my back causing this, because he said it would be an easier fix. If it is my glute, he said it’s not a quick fix. We shall see!

The other update, and one of the other reasons I’ve been so busy, is that I am, with my friend Janet, starting a new business of sorts. I can’t talk about it yet, but soon! It’s taking some time away from shooting and writing, but hopefully, the tedious part of this will be over soon, and I think you all will be excited about it, because it involves all of us!

Okay, now to the pieces I have been loving lately. Before I link them, I wanted to say that I do try to buy quality pieces that are (mostly) made in the US. I am not a “fast” fashion girl, except for Zara and Mango every once in a while. I try not to buy polyester if I can help it. Have you all read how bad polyester (not that everything on Amazon is) is for you? Anyway, a reader left a comment asking me to show more affordable pieces. I promise I really try to find those pieces, but as I said above, when I purchase, I try to buy pieces that last and can be worn across several seasons. I love a bargain just as much as everyone else, and I promise I really try to find more affordable pieces when I am shopping and researching.

LOOK ONE: I am showing a blazer by a brand called WE-AR4. This is a New York-based responsible fashion brand that believes responsibility to the planet is an obligation. Their approach is to reinvent the process from the inside out, crafting designs from luxury deadstock sourced directly from the finest mills in Europe and world-class factories. They find new life for the materials that would have otherwise become waste. This unstructured blazer comes in three other colors and features built-in styling with a contrasting striped lining that extends through the inside sleeve to create a sharp, graphic layer. It is so lightweight and is the perfect blazer for summer nights. I bought it in taupe so I could wear it year-round.

I paired the blazer with a Madewell tank (similar one), white Frame jeans (old, similar), and this feather brooch that I am obsessed with! Similar brown sandals and a similar brown bag.

LOOK TWO: I have been looking for a pair of green pants, and I loved these relaxed cargo pants when I tried them on. I paired them with a striped cotton poplin button-down in a fun wisteria color. I don’t usually wear pink, but I loved this color stripe. I wanted to make this outfit a little funkier, so I added the leopard kitten heel (similar).

LOOK THREE: I showed this shirt from a brand called Toccin a couple of weeks ago. I loved the shirt so much that I got the shirt dress too. This dress is one that I will wear all summer long to church, brunch, or meetings. I love the adjustable drawstring waistband. If you like this dress, it’s on sale HERE! I paired it with raffia sandals and a straw bag (similar).

LOOK FOUR: This is one of my favorite purchases this year. I cannot tell you how much I love these pants and the matching peplum top from La Ligne. This set is so chic (looks better in person) and can be worn together or separately. This set also comes in white. I think this is such a good look for a summer dinner or even a cocktail party. The pants come in lots of colors, and I really want them all. The best part is that they have an elastic waist. I paired them with a black “dad-type” sandal (like this) to dress them down, and an older straw-and-rhinestone bag (similar); however, a heeled sandal and a dressier bag would make this a cocktail look.

I am babysitting my two little girls today while their mom has meetings. I have about four hours that I have to take them out of the house. There is not much to do in Ojai Valley, but head to the park and have lunch. And, of course, it looks like rain! One of the girls is super easy, and the other is three! Wish me luck! I’m headed home tomorrow (this post has taken me a few days to finish), and I have a few days to get ready for a baby shower I am hosting at our home this weekend, plus…I know this sounds koo-koo, but my daughter and girls are flying in this weekend too!  Never a dull moment!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful day! Stay safe and Be well!