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

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: || 

The Key to My Heart 📚✨✨















Anytime someone asks me to describe my most perfect day, it always involves books. Reading a book, meandering through a bookstore, or the holy grail for all book loving nerds like me- a trip to an actual library! Libraries and bookstores (and Disneyland. And Golden Spoon. Wait, and anywhere on the 3rd floor of South Coast by Nordies) are my happy places.  I love the stillness in bookstores. I love the smell of libraries.  Books and words are just a part of me. My mom said from the time I could walk, I walked carrying a book. I have literally devoured books from as early as I can remember and I still do. I read voraciously and I read everytime I have a second to spare.  Brushing my teeth, blow drying my hair, at night in the bath - I read while I am doing it all! 

My sweet husband knows this and we spent part of our date night before dinner in a book store... And then we came home and lit sparklers! Sparklers are so fun! I always keep a little tube of them from Sugarfina handy for moments just like these! Can you say perfect night? Hope that your night was wonderful too! Thanks for stopping by dear reader!🍭🎀Michelle 

Woo Hoo for Ruby Woo and Date Nights!💄💄

Well hi there! I am going to tell you all a little story that starts with red liptsick...last week, a friend of mine gave me a tube of #RubyWoo by @MAC and said that this is "the red that works on everyone". Hmm. This is hugely daunting to me because I wear mascara, sometimes a little blush, lip gloss and that's it. I don't know why I don't wear it. I love make-up. I get super excited whenever I see a new collection (I will even buy some of it!) I think it looks lovely on other people but I just don't like color on my face (I'm positive a therapist somewhere could have a hey-day with this!) Very soft pink lipgloss, with maybe a little shimmer? Yes, please. All day everyday.

So this weekend, I played around with this red color and heeeyy! I didn't completely hate it. It made me feel very grown up and fancy in fact. However, these new red lips of mine needed something more than yoga pants ! I bought this fringey and fabulous #Milly skirt at www.Saks.com over the holidays and it's a perfect dress-up-for-dinner outfit.. (and to get your shimmy on!!) I like to keep a few lace or fringey mini skirts around because you can always, always use them (keep your eyes peeled for reasonably priced alternatives. I say stick with black, white or even a light pink color because they just feel timeless) Since it's on the short side (for me anyway), I covered up on top-- this is my general rule of thumb-- if the skirt is short, I make sure my arms are covered and vice-versa. It feels a little classier to me. The shirt is just a slim fit button down from www.bananarepublic.com.  I wanted to wear a mens white button down (I LOVE that look), but I couldnt find it in my closet (dry cleaners maybe...). On to the shoes...oh mama. These feathery sandals are my favvvvorite ever. Ever ever ever. These puppies just work with anything I pair them with. Plus, I feel all Carrie Bradshaw when I wear them (minus around a thousand other friends that her shoes have. And Mr. Big. But that's another story...) 😊

Anyway, working hard all week and taking care of a family really makes the idea of getting dressed up for a date night seem like.... a chore to me (how sad is that?) Does anyone else feel this way? Like even that much effort is too much? And I know that we need to make the effort because its healthy and soul-filling to be out together as humans (not mom and dad!) So, while it might be infrequent at first, I think me and old #RubyWoo here are going to be seeing more of each other in the future! Hope this inspires your inner red-lipstick wearer too! Thanks so much for stopping by- we sure appreciate it! ❤️❤️Happy Tuesday! xoxo Michelle