Weekend Reading + Some Steals

Husband is at the Ryder Cup today, and then out of town tomorrow so it will be just us gals this weekend.  Who knows what kind of trouble we'll get up to!  

Some good reading this week.  

Racial bias... in preschools.

I don't shop at Tuckernuck often, but their fall lookbook is giving me major heart eyes.  I love that the model's are smiling!  

Teaching our kids not to hate- despite all that they've been exposed to this election. 

Fall decorating without the color orange.  Phew.

 Digging these dark, romantic fall pieces.  I also love this one.  

Really interested in this series on Danish parenting.  I think this book might be up my alley. 

The psychological reason why we care about Brad and Angelina splitting up- I totally do, embarrassingly.  

Ughhh, the cuteness!  

Birth control definitely has a link to depression.  More here. 

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Good things, all under $50.  This, I looooove this stuff, this= so cozy, these are so simple and chic, this, this,  this might be my favorite smell ever., and this is dying for a party to go to. 

bootie bootie bootie- guide to fall boots

One good thing about cooler weather- boots!  Obviously I'll miss my sandals, but  ankle boots, and of course, warm, cozy winter boots are pretty much a mom staple of mine.    I am itching to branch out too - thinking of going for some over the knee boots and making them work for everyday with leggings and jeans!  Here are some of my favorite fall goodies:  

Over The Knee Boots

Click to shop!

Ankle Boots

Click to shop!

Cold Weather Boots

Click to shop!

At the Nature Center

 

 Yesterday we went to the nature center and we had a blast!  There's an indoor toddler crawling area, with a a cool coyote den I couldn't get Ophelia out of, turtles and snakes, a raptor center, and an outdoor "children's nature exploration center" which was pretty much just a bunch of piles of sticks... it was awesome.  

WHAT WE GOT ON:  Sweater, turtleneck, jeans, Hunter boots

Ophelia:  onesie, pants, Robeez, fleece

What We're Reading

picture source

Both my small friend and I are big bookworms.  #nerdalert, but nothing makes me happier than reading a new book.  Here are some of my latest recommendations. 

Homegoing:  I adored this one, but it is definitely heavy.  My husband often makes fun of me for my emo reads that end with me sniffling in my chair.   It begins with two half sisters in Africa, who never know each other.  One is sold into slavery and is sent to America. The book then follows a member of each of their families for generations, going until present day. 

Truly, Madly, Guilty:  So I absolutely love this author.  Big Little Lies (which is getting made into a TV show on HBO!) and The Husband's Secret, a couple of her past big novels,  are some of my favorite books.  But I didn't love this one.  It was still good, but I kind of wished I just waited until I could check it out of the library.

The Perfect Neighbors:  This one was recommended to me as a book for if you love Big Little Lies (above).  I definitely judged it by it's cover (I know, legendary mistake) because it looked kind of fluffy, but I read it anyway.  And loved it!  It takes awhile to get into, but it totally has the same darkly funny feel as some of Moriaty's books. 

Up Next, aka what is in my Amazon cart right now: 

small great things // the gardener and the carpenter // the woman in cabin 10

I've already rounded up some of Ophelia's favorite reads in this post, but here are a few more of her faves. 

Ophelia's Fall Wardrobe- Guide to Dressing Baby Girl

Is there anything better in the world than baby clothes? Buying outfits for my little gal was probably one of my favorite activities while I was pregnant, but now that she is verging on toddler territory (sniff!) I'd like to think I'm a little better at it. Here are some of my best baby fashion tips!

-White socks!  Baby socks are kind of the worst, especially when they are tiny.  They don't stay on and the pretty much never match each other when they come back in the laundry.  Buy all white ones so you can just pick up stray ones off the floor and always have a set.  Even though the little ballet shoe ones are so much cuter!

- Old Navy is kind of baby clothes heaven.  The stuff is some of the cutest out there (example!) and it's insanely inexpensive.  They grow out of their outfits at an alarming rate, so long lasting daily wear isn't essential.  

-Another budget friendly favorite is H&M- their bodysuits fit the best for my long, skinny little peanut.  Their "kimono style" is also amazing because they don't go over their head!  Which you will come to find is life saving. 

-One spot where I do spend money is outerwear.  Living in Minnesota, we have weather that can be... extreme?  I like to get us outside for a walk every. single. day. rain, snow, sun, whatever.  So we are big proponents of there being no bad weather, only bad clothing.  That means layers and Baby Patagonia to match Mom and Dad.  

- A big mistake I made when purchasing while I was pregnant was buying too many dresses.  A lot of the most adorable things in the world went unworn because they aren't super practical- before she was sitting up dresses never stayed down, and she generally lived in cozy sleepers.  Now that she's crawling and cruising, dresses mess with her speed and ability to get around.  We are big fans of one piece outfits here, because less time trying to get our wild girl to stay still and get dressed means way less tears.   Skirted pants are a super cute compromise, and of course, sometimes I just can't resist. 

If I Had Somewhere to Be for a Rocking Saturday Night

Dress// Heels// Necklace // Lipstick// Bag, similar bag for way less

I'm actually at home, on my couch, just snuggled my baby to sleep.  I secretly wouldn't have it any other way. 

Weekend Reading + Steals

Found a tiny bit of fall outside our house.  

Wearing: sweater from American Apparel in store only right now, but similar here , here, and here, jeans

Let Your Kid Eat Dirt- I'm a big fan of this, as seen here.    

Always on the hunt for a good natural deodorant.  (I currently use this one)

New fall books!  I'm excited for this one too.  

J.Crew's presentation from NYFW has me already excited for spring! I like that they used "real people" instead of models too.  Not that models aren't real people, of course.

No technology, no homework, more playtime- why does Finland have the best education system in the world?  

In my French, bohemian dreams...

This journey with fatigue has me upping my supplement game.  And I already looove me some vitamins.  

If I had somewhere cool to be, this is what I would wear. 

The new fall home line has me jonesing for a Target run.  

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Good things under $50:  this, this, these (the only brand of shoes I have Ophelia wear now that she is learning to walk), this- I am obsesssssed, I must have it!   this, this (the one makeup item I actually wear regularly), this- why is the idea of Ophelia in a little sweatshirt killing me with cuteness??!  This and this.

Three Trends for Fall- Tops

Happy first day of fall everyone!  

Let's start it off with some shopping!  These are some of my favorite trends for fall and winter, rounded up at every price range.
Note to my husband, this, and this are definitely on my wishlist ;) 

Cozy Cardigans

Knot Detail Tops

Date Night Embroidery

A Few of Ophelia's Favorite Things

Baby girl will be one in less than a month, which simultaneously blows my mind and makes me want to cry.  I remember the October night she was born so well,  and now she is totally a toddlerish little girl.  I cannot believe it has been a year since she joined our gang!  These are highly recommended and Philly approved favorite things for playing.  I like "open ended" toys, or things with no noise or lights that allow the child to use their imagination for how to use the toy.  Many of these don't get used in their intended purpose but they are all favorites of hers!  

1.  Shape Sorter

2.  Tunnel

3.  Zany Zoo

4.  Sensory Balls (these are a big hit with both Ophelia + our dog Jolie!)

5.  Hammer Block

6.  Stacking Ring

7.  Maracas!  These are probably her most favorite thing in the world right now.  

8.  Skills Puzzle

9.  Dolly

one of Ophelia's "work" areas in our house

We are also super big fans of the Pottery Barn Everywhere Chair.  She currently pushes it around and uses it to climb everyyyyything. It's also a cute spot to sit them on and tear up at how big they've gotten , er, watch them grow.  

 

 

& last but DEFINITELY not least, ophelia and her mama are big fans of reading over here. these are her current favorites! (the babies and doggies book gets read approximately 71847 times a day)

At the Rose Garden

Denim Jacket, love this one, and this one too// Navy Top- sold out, similar, similar// Jeans// Sneakers, also here, Sunglasses

meanwhile, my little friend was busy crawling in and out of the thicket and splashing in the fountain.

the rose garden is definitely one of our favorite places to hang and will be sorely missed this winter. 

Making NYFW Street Style Looks Work IRL

So the street style from this season's New York fashion week were somewhat less high fashion and  actually seemed more wearable than usual.  Definitely still not average everyday Mom wear, but using some of my favorite looks as inspiration and making them work for my everyday is kind of my idea of fun.  The keys seem to be high waisted denim, aka "mom jeans" which are already my BFFs, block heels, and a new one for me, printed silk scarves!

Look #1

I love this.  Jean shorts + a hippie blouse is pretty much a Brittany staple.  The block heels are so good and so in right now, but to make it work for me I would have to wear flats...  let's pretend Ophelia would let me wear my MNZ pumps, dream big, right?

Look #2

  

This one is soooo pretty.  I'm thinking maybe I could wear my version for Ophelia's one year pictures?  I have so few times when I actually get to dress up these days!

Look #3

This one's easy!  Easily mom-ified. 

Weekend Reading + Some Steals

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 Dream kitchen- and it seems somewhat attainable?!

I'd Wear That-  I like these picks from NYFW.  

Being an Elephant Mom in a Tiger Mom World.

I kind of want to live in these (or these!) all weekend long.

Best Ikea Finds for Kids- we have like 80% of these  in our house already... cue the hands over face emoji!

I don't really wear makeup usually, but I love reading all of these.

FedEx Delivery Fails- had me chuckling.

2016 Best States to have a Baby- yay Minnesota! 

Ophelia hates wearing dresses because she can't crawl as fast, but I might just being buying this anyway.

Apple Crisp roundup.  Yesssssss.  

Good stuff under $50:  

this, this, this (I LOVE this, such a good mask for cheap!), this, this, this, these (we have them all over our house and they make your mess look  somewhat prettier)  and this

Happy weekend!

Fall Essentials At Every Price

Okay, so I'm not the biggest fan of fall.  I always get a little bummed out when summer ends, change and I are not the best of friends.  BUT I do love fall clothes!  Cozy clothes and football season almost make up for beach days being over, right?  Here are the best, must haves for fall for every day mom duties,  in every price range!

Long sleeve striped tee 

                            Really Save                                    Save                                           Splurge

Boyfriend Jeans 

                            Really Save                                    Save                                           Splurge

 

Military Coats

    Really Save                                    Save                                           Splurge  

Buckle Booties 

    Really Save                                    Save                                           Splurge 

Plaid Blanket Scarves 

    Really Save                                    Save                                           Splurge  

What I'm wearing: Striped tee, army jacket, jeans, scarf, booties- old from Target

Hanging in the Backyard

There was finally like 4 minutes where it was cool enough for me to put on a sweater!  I was ecstatic.  Not sure if it's nursing or just my genetic makeup, but pretty much the majority of my life I'm sweating.  That's probably part of the reason I <3 living in Minnesota.  

WHAT WE GOT ON: Clad & Cloth ballet sweater, sold out but they restock frequently so keep checking!  Similar here,  here, here,  and here.  Peplum tee, jeans, and clogs, other color clogs here.  

Ophelia is rocking mixed florals, her onesie is here, and her pants are here.  

Why are peplum tops the best thing ever?

I'm obsessed (is there any more overused word in the blogger lexicon? I'm not sure but I digress!) with peplum tops and tees.  Flattering for moms and easy to dress up just about anything- the perfect I tried but didn't try too hard topper.  I've got to admit, as I'm typing, I'm wearing this one.  

Here are some of my peplum favorites for fall, some VERY budget friendly!

Climbing Some Stairs

What I've got on for our never ending stair climbing expedition:  Floral blouse, army vest- mine is old from Target but this, this and this are super similar (love for throwing on over everything and making any outfit more "fashion-y") jean shorts, and my pink vans (also available here and here on sale!).