Browsing Tag:

mom style

  • Everyday Fashion

    Athleisure: 4 Easy Tips on How To

    Athleisure as defined by Wikipedia is: a trend in fashion in which clothing designed for workouts and other athletic activities is worn in other settings, such as at the workplace, at school, or at other casual or social occasions… 

    As a busy mom and a women of 2017 you can find me in athleisure fairly regularly.  And since there is no denying WE all wear it I wanted to share 4 easy tips on keeping your athleisure wear trendy and stylish.

    *My site contains affiliate links and if anything is purchased I may earn a small commission.  There is no additional cost to you*

     

    All photos belong to their respectful owners.  Images courtesy of Pinterest.  

    quick tips:

    athleisure tip #1

    Invest in a pair of good quality neutral color leggings.  The reason I say invest is that a lot of the good quality ones are upwards of $100 and while that is a bit steep but you will thank me and more importantly you will love them.  Given they are the bases of your athleisure look it is important that they are neutral in color and can be worn and washed many times.  Some of the cheaper pairs bunch at the knees, stretch out and/or fade in their color.  My personal favorites are Zella, Athleta and Lululemon.  Investing in a good pair of leggings, or two, is a great start to elevating your athleisure look.

    athleisure tip #2

    Stock up on basic layering tees.  Both short sleeve and long sleeve.  I love wearing a basic tee and doing a little side tie to create more of a defined waist ( or snag one that already does that for you).  Throw on a long sleeve baseball tee on those cooler days and feel trendy and comfortable.  Personally, I tend to keep the tee’s in the neutral pallet but with so many fun and trendy prints/graphics/patterns I would say here is a place to spice it up and make it more personalized!!  Some prefer to keep their tee’s long enough to cover the booty but given you are wearing good quality leggings I feel you need not be as concerned about this.  Go with whatever length you feel comfortable in.  Basic layering tee’s are an essential for perfecting your athleisure look.

    athleisure tip #3

    Find a great pair of lifestyle tennis shoes.  The world is your oyster in this department as there are so many choices out there.  For me, I tend to stick with Nike or New Balance but there are so many that the possibilities are endless.  This is also a great place to add your personal touch with color, pattern, funk or even classic.  Tennis shoes are the definition of athleisure so make sure to get a pair you LOVE.

    athleisure tip #4

    Get yourself an oversized zip-up, hoodie or cardigan. This is the finishing touch to complete your athleisure look.  I could go on and on and recommend so many wonderful hooodies/cardigans but I will just say find one or two that are neutral, cozy and comfortable.  I tend to gravitate towards the over-sized look as I love how I can snuggle up in them and just simply prefer the way they look.  Plus, the oversized up top balances out the tighter bottoms!  Ha.

    Athleisure is life

    Essentially the key to keeping your athleisure look trendy and stylish is to keep it simple, polished and invest in a few good pieces. I know there are so many options and varieties of athleisure wear on the market today- I mean it is everywhere.  Let’s embrace the look- it is so practical and comfortable- let’s just do it stylishly.

    With Love,

     

     

     

     

     

  • Everyday Fashion

    Self Care: Graphic Tanks + Joggers

    Graphic Tanks + Joggers

    The most trendy buzz word in my “mama” circle is?????

    SELF CARE. 

    Recentlyish I was asked what I do for self-care.  How I ensure my needs are met.  And well…. I didn’t have an answer.  I stood there speechless.

    Fast forward several weeks.  Declan is in school and Brendan is traveling so I have a lot of time to think about myself.  I have a lot of time to focus on myself.  And it feels super unnatural and awkward. There is such a taboo about making yourself the focus of your own life, especially as a mother.  BUT why???  Everyone knows that if mama isn’t happy no one is happy but no one is comfortable with making mama the focus.  After I was asked how I take care of myself I spent a great deal of time thinking about what makes ME happy, what make ME feel complete and how do I make ME the center of my own attention.  A lot of women exercise, a lot of women spend a day at the spa, a lot of women do happy hours and believe me I try to do all of those but I need something different.

    I need ME time.  I need alone time.  It took me years to realize that I need alone time.  For reflection, for thought, for planning, for decompressing, for comfort, for SELF-CARE. I used to be scared to be alone with my thoughts and I was always seeking distractions. I was constantly seeking “noise” in my life to avoid the “noise” in my own head.  Being comfortable and alone with my thoughts was scary… Its like I was scared to think for myself.  If I listened to my mind I would have to change my life, if I listened to my brain I would have to change my heart and that scared me.  It scared me enough that I avoided it and created other things to think about.  I, essentially, created drama in my life to avoid dealing with my own life.  Talk about the opposite of self-care.  In fact, it made it impossible to engage in worthwhile, effective self-care because it was easier.

    Being alone and giving myself the time to address my thoughts is HARD.  It is harder than ignoring it.  Addressing and unpacking those thoughts is uncomfortable and sometimes it is yucky.  It’s a big mess up in my brain, it’s an emotional dumping ground, it’s a hodge podge of missed opportunities, regrets, celebrations and fears.  Over the last several years I have worked really hard at becoming comfortable with my thoughts, with learning to silence the outside “noise” to focus on the inside, with being alone.  It is challenging and sometimes downright impossible but in an effort to focus on self-care it is time I go back to listening to myself.  For some reason, I have slipped back into avoiding myself and of creating outside “noise” loud enough to drown out the inside “noise”

    While we lived in London and the year prior to that I had done a great job of focusing on my own thoughts, of learning to love being alone with my mind and to embrace the chaos of my own life.  Some might say I had no other choice given I was across the world but it was as much that as it was the internal feeling of knowing something needed to change.  I was ready to feel differently.  And I am again, ready to feel differently.

    Photos: Jenna Sparks Photography 

    ** Disclosure: my sight contains affiliate links.  It does not cost you anything to click on the links and if you purchase I may earn a small commission** 

    get the look: Joggers <similar> // Graphic Tank (old) <similar> // wedges // tote // watch // sunnies 

    Who doesn’t love this jogger trend??!?!? It is like wearing fancy sweatpants out of the house and I am obsessed.  I think these are my third or fourth pair!  I love to dress them up (like in this look) with a fun tee, wedges or heels and some fancy fun jewelry.  But I am not afraid to throw them on with a tee, flip flops and cardigan (perfect for school drop off).  This graphic tank is old but this trend is still hot!!  You can find ones with just anything on them… I have linked a few of my other favorites <here> <here> and <here> .  Again such a versatile piece to have in your closet- throw it on with joggers or distressed denim for a super cute trendy look.

    I, personally, tend to gravitate towards simple accessories.  I almost exclusively wear stud earrings (especially in my everyday life) and stick to the same four-six bracelets.  My style is pretty classic and easy.  Below I have linked my favorite stud earrings and bracelets- most of which you can find me any day of the week.

    taking care

    Self-care comes in many forms and is different for each person.  Self-care is not just about getting away from you children, or your job or your spouse… it is about embracing yourself.  It is about making yourself and your happiness a priority. Whatever form your self-care takes on I challenge you to remain authentic, real and transparent with your journey.  Embracing my feelings, my wandering mind and noisy thoughts is how I practice self-care.  Being alone and making the time to decompress, relax and reflect is how I practice self-care.  Recognizing and accepting myself as important is how I practice self-care.

    How do you do it???

    With Love,

    shop the post:

     

  • Everyday Fashion, Family Life

    Becoming a Mother

    Happy Mothers Day to all the Mom’s.

    This is my 4th Mothers Day but my son is only three… now that is some tricky math!  Anyway- I have been celebrating on Mothers Day with my mother for 34 years… so this day is very special to me (as I am sure it is to many many people).  My mother has been the most influential, compassionate, warm-hearted, patient person in my life.  She has taught me what it is to feel loved and accepted.  She is forever and always on my side and I am truly blessed to call her “Woman” each and everyday! Thank you mom.

    Read more

  • Everyday Fashion, Family Life

    Balance in Bloom

    Boy Mom Moment

    So this marks my first official “mom” blog post.  Finding the ever fleeting “mom balance” lies ahead.

    Since the launch of Pish to Posh  I have tried to keep Declan separate but I have learned time and time again that, for me, I can not do that.  Declan is my world…. Declan is my grounding rock and on some days my only friend.  Declan makes me laugh harder and love more intensely than I ever imagined.  He reminds me to slow down and look at life through the lens of a child; very matter of fact like.  There is no subjective undertone when he is talking to me and asking me questions, he has no hidden agenda- he is only three. I crave to spend time with Declan and I have the worst FOMS  (fear of missing something) as a mother. I want to be there at every step of his growth, I want to be the one to teach him everything he knows. I never want to see him fail and I so desperately want to be involved in EVERY single aspect of his life ….except when I don’t.

    And that my friends is real life.

    Sometimes I want to run away and never look back.  There are days where I question every life decision I have made that has led me to the point where I am having another conversation as to why we can’t flush the dog down the toilet.  Believe it or not sometimes I want to sit down and eat dinner without a continous battle over whether one or two bites is enough to earn a cookie.  There are days where I would love to read a book without having trains, trucks and dinosaurs trampling me.  And do you know what I would give to drink a cup of coffee or wine uninterrupted????  I am not the parent who is obsessed with their child.  I am obsessed with being a mother and I am obsessed with providing the very best for my child but I am the first to admit that I crave balance between being a mother and being a woman.  There is nothing I want more in life than to love and spoil my son… the appropriate amount.  I am not that mom.  Does that make me a bad mom???  Sometimes it may seem that way and some may say it does but for me finding the balance is the only way I can continue to strive to be the best mother for Declan.

    Photos: Jenna Sparks Photography 

    I am by no means an expert on parenting but I can say with a lot of confidence that I am an expert on parenting Declan.  There is no one who knows him like I do, there is no one who gives up as much as I do and there is no one who loves him like I do. And because of that I know that the balance we have of time together and time apart is what keeps our relationship strong.  It is because I know him so well that I understand he needs socialization and play, it is because I give up so much that I allow myself  to take time to nurture my soul and it is because I love him so much that I seek time without him.  Love makes the heart grow fonder and I find the more I miss Declan the more I crave to be with him.

     

    Some of you know but many do not that Declan had serious medical issues at birth ( a whole other blog post to come) but an immediate and overwhelming need to protect and care for my son was thrown upon me as he was rushed to the NICU, after an unplanned immediate c-section, where he lived for 4 long weeks.  My path as a mother lead me to quit my job and stay home with Declan.  The first 18 months were challenging to say the least (my goal is not to attract sympathy but to provide background). However out of those months we formed a bond that I am confident we would not have if it not been for his medical issues.  HOWEVER, now that he is a 100% healthy, thriving, inquisitive, mischievous and flourishing toddler it is time for us to figure out what the next chapter holds.  Our bond as mother and son is unbreakable so I am not afraid to create some space… for both of us to learn… for both of us to grow… to find some balance and for both of us to bloom.

    I hope that with these new “mom blog” posts you will continue to see the message behind my writing and that you come to expect the same honest and truthful nature I try to capture each week.  Writing about motherhood is harder than I had anticipated but I want to be authentic in this space.  It is less about the fashion (although Declan is a total ham in front of the camera) and more about my desire to connect with each of you on some level.  I know that not all of you are mothers but I hope, even you, will come back each week for a little insight into my everyday world as a women, blogger and MOTHER.

    With Love,

    SHOP MY LOOK: DENIM // TANK <SIMILAR>  // SANDALS // BRALETTE 
    SHOP DECLAN’S LOOK: SHORTS // TEE // SHOES 

     

  • Everyday Fashion

    Sundays: Graphic Tanks & Distressed Denim

     

    Happy Wednesday- not to be confused with the title of this post.. it is not Sunday.  It is still only Wednesday.

    In effort to continue to be authentic and organic in this space I wanted to share a little about my life, here in Denver, as the wife of a husband who travels 100% of the time.  When I say he travels 100% I mean he leaves on Sunday night and returns either Thursday night or Friday. On a good week Brendan spends three nights sleeping at home.  As a consultant his job is dictated by the client… not his family.

    Each Sunday I say goodbye to my favorite person. I get asked A LOT how I am handling having Brendan travel all the time and to be honest I am doing okay… but I miss him.  Sundays are my least favorite day of the week.  This lady lives for Thursday and Friday. While Brendan is gone, I go on about my everyday life—I a mother and toddlers are high demand—but my mind is perpetually on him and what he is doing… but in my heart, I’m okay with our situation.  I am blessed and fortunate enough to stay home with Declan, to write a blog and pursue my passions and for those reasons I am thankful for Brendan’s job.  In any relationship, each person has to learn to give a little and take a little and luckily we have found that perfect balance.  Believe it or not this travel gig is not all bad; Brendan has learned the balance of work and family, I have deepened my love and appreciation for him; I value and cherish our time together; I am more thoughtful in my conversations and intentional with our time. And you know what…??? Declan gets a lot of one on one attention from both of us and I cannot see any downside to that.

    Photos: Zoey Grace Photography 

    shop the look: denim // tank // cardigan // necklace // tote// mules 

    So, I love these distressed denim jeans and I love this graphic tank… obviously! I know you have seen these distressed denim in a few other posts <here> and <here> but I love them that much.  It is my goal to keep denim under $100 and these babies not only meet that criteria but they also have some really good distressing and I love how easy they are to wear with ANYTHING.  This graphic tank was a sweet Target find and for only $12 I swooped it up ASAP.  Plus it fit perfectly with the theme of this post and so I felt it was a match made in heaven.  I will also pair this graphic tank with a lace bralette and denim shorts as the weather gets warmer.  The graphic tee craze is a real thing and I feel like I finally found one I love.

    LADIES!!!! Another fabulous statement necklace coming your way!!!  This one is, also, a Target find! You know how much I love a good statement necklace and I can’t help but swoon all over this one!  This duster length cardigan first appeared <here> in my Easter post but I literally wear it so often that it is only fitting it shows up again.  It is currently on sale for $25 and it is a must have for spring and summer-I promise you will get a lot of wear out of it.  These slip on mules are getting a lot of wear now that the weather is consistently warmer.  I have linked a few pairs in a lower price range.

    the truth in his travel

    Declan and I have a routine and in all honesty our weekdays fly by while we wait for Dad to return. In the last two and half months I have learned that I depend on Declan just as much as he depends on me.  The weekends have become the most important days and our focus to spend time as a family is of up-most importance.  Brendan is an AMAZING father and his travel will never change that. Does it get lonely???  Yes, of course it does. However,  at the end of the day I would not give back my personal growth as a mother and a wife for anything and therefore I would not give back his travel; it has taught me as much as it has taught him.  I am strong and I can do this.  But Sunday… I wish you were Thursday

    With Love,