Happy New Year! Can I still get away with saying that? I’m not sure how it got to be the second half of January but here we are! The past 8 weeks have been a busy blur but I can feel it starting to slow down and starting to get easier. Hopefully I didn’t just jinx myself. I wanted to share a round up of outfits I’ve worn and loved lately. A mix of athleisure, jeans and dressing for cold weather (50 degree mornings at drop off are cold)!

top, cardigan, sunglasses, jeans

bodysuit, purse, jeans, boots

jacket, sunglasses, leggings, sneakers

sweater, shorts

on me: sunglasses, sweater, leggings, socks, similar sneakers

on Wilder: vest, shirt, jeans, boots

jacket, top, leggings

jacket

cardigan, sweatshirt, leggings, socks

on me: coat, leggings, shoes

on Crosby: sunglasses, shirt, coat, leggings, shoes

I’m still coming off of the most fun and jam packed 4th of July weekend. It was non-stop from Friday afternoon until after the fireworks Sunday night. I posted some of the highlights on my instagram/instagram stories but had a lot of questions about outfit links. I figured it would be easiest to put them all into a post together. I love a good Americana look all summer long!

on me: pullover, jeans, sandals, sunglasses

on Wilder: sweatshirt, shorts, shoes

on Crosby: similar set, shoes

on me: swimsuit, coverup, sandals, hat, sunglasses

on Crosby: swimsuit

on Wilder (pictured in the collage above): swim trunks

hat, top, shorts, sandals

on me: set, sunglasses, sandals

on Crosby: dress

on Wilder: shirt, shorts

on me: dress, sandals, sunglasses

on Crosby: dress

white dress, red white and blue dress, striped dress, similar blue and white dress

I’ve been finding more cute things for Crosby lately than myself… I guess that’s how motherhood goes! Between swimsuits and sundresses she’s pretty set for summer. Although the way she changes clothes (multiple outfits a day) who knows how long she’s really set for. I wanted to share some of the cute things I’ve found for her lately.

swimsuit, sunglasses, shorts

dress, scooter, shoes, helmet

swimsuit

swimsuit

We’re taking family photos next week and I’m so excited. We haven’t taken photos of the four of us with a photographer in over a year and it’s crazy how much bigger the kids are now. Wilder looks like a completely different baby. It might be the former stylist in me, but I enjoy picking out our family outfits for the photos. I wanted to share some styling tips if you’re taking family photos soon.

I usually start by going through our closets and pulling possible choices we own in the colors I want us to wear. Since we’re taking them this time of year I’m leaning into fall neutrals – beige, brown, gray, black, cream, etc. I pulled a few dresses from my closet to try on and decided on this black wrap maxi dress from Yumi Kim. It’s at least four years old so I don’t have a link but I found some similar Yumi Kim dresses: here and here, and a couple dress I think are gorgeous and would be so pretty in photos: here and here.

I knew Jeff would have something that would work so I didn’t bother to go through his closet until I had the kids looks nailed down. The kids have grown so much since last year and needed new things. I first went to Zara because I love their baby boy basics but struck out on sizing for Wilder. Note, size down at least two sizes when shopping for babies there. Luckily I found Crosby’s dress there. Next I headed to H&M and found these skinny jeans and cardigan for him. I sized down to 6-9 months in the pants and 9-12 months in the cardi. He’s 18 months old and typically wears a 12 month size elsewhere, just to give you an idea on sizing.

Next I lay out our looks to see if the colors/patterns (if there are any) compliment each other and then I work on Jeff. To be honest, his look is usually more of a filler. I knew he’d either wear a henley or button down and gray pants or jeans. He usually wears a one of these henley’s, J. Crew pants, Levis, or a button down.

To summarize:

Think about what colors you want

Go through closets first and pull and possible options

Shop for other pieces you need

Lay them out together and photograph to make sure they go together and there are no clashing colors or competing patterns

Now that the outfits are set, we tackle the hardest part… actually taking the photos with two toddlers + a husband who will probably want nothing to do with it. It’s really the most wonderful time of the year!

Calendar wise the end of August is typically the end of summer, but in southern California (and several other places), summer is just heating up. We will have really hot days until at least Halloween and this year I really want to soak them up at the beach as much as possible. Usually by September the crowds are a lot smaller and the beach is easier to do. Fingers crossed that’s still true for this wacky year.

We headed down the peninsula to the bay side the other day after naps for some late afternoon/early evening fun. It’s been really hot and humid and it was still 85 degrees when we left at 6:30, but we had fun playing in the sand and splashing in the water.

I ordered this swimsuit for myself a few weeks ago on major sale. When it arrived I realized how similar it was to one of Crosby’s so we had to wear them together. Both of our suits are sadly sold out, but this time of year is always a good time to take advantage of the end of season sales and shop for swimwear at a big discount. I’m rounding up some favorites below.

J. Crew is one of my favorites for one piece swimsuits for myself, they have a pretty good selection on sale right now. I’m loving this black and white gingham print, this orange and pink and this pink one-shoulder suit. These seersucker one shoulder suits would be really cute to hold on to until next 4th of July, they’re currently and extra 60% off.

I always love getting Crosby’s swimsuits at Old Navy, the one she’s wearing is sold out but it’s available in a turquoise polka dot print.

I also love this tropical print with the dainty ruffles, navy blue palm tree print, black and white polka dot, and this navy and white star ruffle suit (would be another cute one to hold onto until next summer). She also has this leopard print suit and loves it.

Hope you had a great weekend – thank you for reading and following!

I’m a big sucker for matching outfits, especially brother sister matching outfits. I really don’t think there’s much cuter than matching siblings and I’m trying to take advantage while they’re little and I still have semi-control (Crosby will only wear dresses so as long as her’s is a dress I’m good). I wanted to share my favorite place to find their matching outfits!

on me: dress, similar hat

on Crosby: dress

on Wilder: romper we also got this matching shirt

Monica & Andy makes the cutest and softest clothes for babies and toddlers. I loved their newborn outfits for Wilder last year and their matching prints are so cute and unique.

The kids outfits for Wilder’s first birthday were pizza prints from M&A. I also got them these adorable wave outfits – shirt for Wilder and top for Crosby. With the peplum hem we can probably convince her it’s a dress and she’ll just wear bike shorts on the bottom.

Hope you’re having a great week – thank you so much for reading and following!