Waterfront Style

There's something about being close to water that makes you feel free and relaxed. I live in a desert, so Tempe Town Lake is as close as I can get without driving several hours to California. When I hear the sound of the water and the wind blowing it makes all of life's stresses melt away.

I went and visited last week to take some fashion photos of my new favorite maxi dress from Bar III. This dress is the perfect shade of green, and it's so comfortable. I feel like it was designed for an elegant night on the waterfront. I accessorized it with lavender wedges from Shoe Dazzle, as well as metallic fringe bag, silver necklace and Tom Ford shades from Alixandra Collections.

Though it will be several months before I get to spend time on the Atlantic Ocean, my stylish time on the lake was enough to satisfy my cravings for the water.

Photos by Liz E. Studio; dress from Macy's; accessories from Alixandra Collections; shoes from Shoe Dazzle.

The "ALEX" T-Shirt

I'm SO, so happy to share the "ALEX T-shirt" with you today! It's no ordinary shirt. This shirt has POWER! It has power to help end sex trafficking of women and children. Elegantees and I have partnered to design a t-shirt in navy and white with a silk pocket and extra length (I'm always in need of that) that every woman would enjoy wearing all year round. We really wanted the design to be a hit among all women because with your purchase of the "ALEX T-shirt" your money goes to empowering women in Napal to create these shirts and other pieces through education and a safe haven from the terrible conditions that they once knew as a slave. Please read more about Elegantees fight against trafficking, and check out their shop for other ways you can support them. You can get FREE shipping today by using the code 'ALEX.' Now let's talk about how I styled my t-shirt...

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1| With a jean jacket. I love denim on denim. It's such a cool combination and easy to wear, especially with a t-shirt underneath.

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2| Sleeves rolled up. I like rolling up my sleeves for my of a tomboy look sometimes. Even rolling sleeves to the point they are cap sleeves is cool in my book, but if your arms are an area you get self-conscious you might not want to try this.

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3| Sleeves down and tied at the waist. As a lady with a baby bump, this is a great way to show it off and not have the extra fabric sticking out. If I didn't have a bump though the shirt would be long enough for a tunic and I could wear skinny jeans, leggings and even faux leather pants with this shirt.

When I look at my daughter I pray that she would become a woman that is treated with respect and love that we all deserve. The thought of women and children in this world being used as slaves and objects and treated as nothing kills me inside. Please go support Elegantees! 

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Photos by Amy Frances Photography

Potty Training Tips & Giveaway

Potty training is one of the most patience-testing tasks I have ever done as a mom. I don't really write about motherhood too often on this blog, but given the amount of poop and pee I have been cleaning up I thought sharing my experience could help some other moms out there. Fashion can wait for the good of motherhood. My daughter is two and a half, and we really wanted to wait until she was "ready." Given that she is our first child, we were reading all of these articles on BabyCenter.com waiting for her to meet all the checkmarks before trying. But with preschool enrollment starting now and seeing sentences like, "Child MUST be fully potty trained to enroll," definitely put a rush on things.

I read several different resources and talked to a lot of moms. I bought the tiny potty that you have to empty when they tinkle AND I bought a potty seat for the 'big potty.' I downloaded different apps on my iPhone to tell me when to take her to the bathroom, I bought a tarp for her to sit on for the first couples days...All sorts of things...and here is what I really needed:

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1. The potty seat. She liked the feeling of being like a grown up and sitting on the "big girl" potty, so we bought a seat from Target. The seat keeps her from falling in, and I just tote it around with us everywhere now so she can go potty. It's a lot easier than bringing a mini potty and putting it in the back of the car. I also bring anti-bacterial wipes to sanitize the seat after use in a public place, as well as sticky notes to cover up the automatic flush sensors. Let's be real, falling in the toilet and automatic flushers scare small children. Keep the potty experience positive!

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2. iRulu BabyPad - Once you have a place that your kiddo enjoys sitting, the trick is getting them to stay there long enough to go to the bathroom. Two years olds are busy, but one thing mine always has time for is watching shows or plays games on her tablet. We use an iRulu for Elle because it's a tablet that is just hers. Everything on it is educational and kid friendly. I don't have to worry about her messing up my iPad or using apps that I don't want her on. She likes that she has her own personal device like mommy and daddy, and it's perfect for long stints on the toilet. They are way more affordable than an iPad ($68 vs. hundreds), and can do anything that an android device can do. You can learn more about it here, and check it out on the latest episode of The Balancing Act. And, we're giving one iRulu away to one lucky reader.

iRULU GIVEAWAY: To win an iRulu tablet for your little be sure to do the following two things below:

1| Comment below sharing one of your favorite attribute of your child.

2| Follow me on Instagram and tag two friends that you think would benefit from these tips.

The giveaway is only open for 24 hours, and the winner will be notified via email. The winner will be chosen using Random.org.

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3. Pull-Ups - For the first two days we stayed home and kept Elle from wearing any bottoms so she could feel if she had an accident. On the third day she was pretty much pee trained, but we are still working on number two. I tried having her wear underwear, but going out in public made it especially difficult when she would go number 2 in her pants. Let's just say there were many moments of poop on the floor, stepping in it as we tried to get her bottoms off without getting poo on her legs, etc. I was worried that if I put the pull-up back on she would revert to her old ways, but she hasn't. We put a fresh pull up on her every day, and we're no longer using 5-6 diapers in a day. Plus, we're not ruining a ton of underwear. Until we can get her completely number 2 trained pull-ups are where it's at.

3. Wipes - Don't forget the wipes either! You'll still need them from time to time. Sometimes toilet paper just doesn't do the trick when you're really trying to get them clean.

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4. Potty Time App - Download Potty Time on your iPhone or on your iRulu. Elle really enjoyed the positive reinforcement of the digital sticker chart. Elle also likes that she could call her friend "Rachel" when she went potty or when she had an accident, and Rachel encouraged her to keep trying. Though it's just a video that's preloaded into the app the kids think it's a real phone conversation. So cute!

5. Fruit Snacks - The reward system really does motivate kids. It did for Elle. In two days time she was pee trained, and I really think fruit snacks did the trick. She will do anything for those tasty treats.

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Those are my tips that have worked for us so far. As for #2 we have learned that putting a tiny bit of Miralax in her water helps her stay regular and avoid painful bowel movements for now. It's a journey and every kid is different. Don't feel frustrated if your kiddo isn't potty trained in three days. Just go into the process with an open and positive mind. Celebrate the wins as much as you can too!

*This post is sponsored by iRulu and The Balancing Act.

Photos by Amy Frances Photography

February Makeover: Bookshelf Organization with Chasing Paper

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Ever since I finished Elle's nursery in 2012 I've always wanted to wallpaper her bookshelf and make it more dynamic. But with the busyness of becoming a new mom, making over her bookshelf quickly became one of my last priorities.

Along came Chasing Paper....They have changed the way wallpapering is done. With a simple measure, peel and stick - you can transform your walls, your tables and even your bookshelves. I chose a pastel illustrated book pattern by artist, Samarra Khaja. It matched the decor of Elle's room without being overly matchy. I also loved how the imagery filled in a lot of the white space that was bothering me so much.

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I simply removed all of the shelves from the bookshelf, measured, peeled and stuck the paper to the back of the bookcase. In hindsight, I should have removed the flimsy cardboard backing of the bookshelf and pasted the wallpaper the cardboard while it was lying down on a hard surface. The really tricky part of hanging the wallpaper was the give of the cardboard, which made it difficult to hang the paper straight. It took me several times, but the great thing is that you can re-stick this wallpaper a lot and the adhesive doesn't ever seem to wear off.

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Four sheets of paper later, and voila! We have a transformed, colorful bookcase.

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Try it for yourself. I was able to do this project in under two hours.

I'm Pregnant: How to Dress for Your First Trimester

I'm pregnant you guys! I am so thankful that Elle will get to be a big sister this September. Being an only child, I always have wanted to know what it would be like to have siblings. I won't ever know that, but I will know what it's like to be a parent to siblings. YAY! I'm a mom of two!

With this fun announcement I thought I would share about how I dress during the first trimester because I think it's the hardest one to find clothes for. You don't feel well from the all-day sickness and you just look like you have a food baby. Anyone else been there? Here are two different approaches to getting dressed:

1. Flaunt it. If you have a bitty bump and you want the world to know, wear tighter fitting clothes. This vintage inspired dress from Frances Vintage is a great example. It clings to my body and accentuates my bump. I love dresses because you only have one piece of clothing to worry about and they make you feel so pretty.

2. Hide it. If you don't want people doing a double-take or the thought of people thinking you've really started to pack on the pounds bothers you, opt for hiding your bump until the second trimester. A-line maxi dresses work really well for this such as this festival dress from Lulu*s.  I paired a leather jacket that stops right at my waist, which further disguised any change in my figure. Can you tell?

All in all pregnancy during the first trimester is really hard because you're very tired, and if you're like me you feel super sick. I promise that wearing clothes you feel good in helps you feel a tad bit better. I will be sharing my bump style throughout my pregnancy, but I'll also be sure to share with you non-maternity clothing for the majority of those that aren't in this life stage. Have no fear!

Photos by Katina Patriquin.