STAYING COOL WITH NEUTRALS

I have lived in Arizona for 15 years. The first couple of summers were brutal as I adjusted to scorching temperatures. I kept thinking to myself, “Why do I even live here?” but then something funny happened. I started to fall in love with the desert and I adapted just like the animals and the vegetation have done. I learned that shade is king, plants can thrive and the summer sunsets are more amazing as the dust particle swirl in the atmosphere and heat radiates from the ground. Fields of corn stalks fill the brown patches of earth. Tan skin, sun-kissed freckles, gentle waves in my hair after a long day of swimming and soft cotton...These are just a few of my favorite things that I have come to cherish under Arizona summer sun.

So, to adapt in style and to enjoy the summer heat, linen proves to be the most efficient fabric by being light and breathable. In this way, The White Company's summer collection, feels more like a chic armory - keeping me ready for the summertime swelter.

Already familiar with their quality in regards to home linens and beauty products, I hoped The White Company’s clothes would be just as wonderful, and was not disappointed. I found myself drawn to the timelessness and simplicity of their easy linen dresses, pants and neutral accessories. In particular, I fell in love with this Floral Ladder Trim dress and ankle wrap sandals. Even on a blistering hot Arizona day, I would feel happy with the amount of coverage this dress provides, while allowing airflow. As for my feet, these sandals are chameleon-like - they can be worn with ANYTHING, creating the perfect finishing touch for nearly any outfit.

The cut of this linen dress is timeless, I’m confident I will wear this piece for years to come. Be it for an all day excursion at the beach or at a summer BBQ, it works for just about every occasion. I ordered a size 6 based off of their sizing chart and it fits perfectly. The length makes it comfortable enough for me to wear to church on a Sunday, with no hesitation.

I have been wanting a neutral, flat sandal for a while now, and I was really drawn to these suede tassel ones. I've mentioned before that I enjoy open toe shoes because of my long, narrow feet, and the ankle strap helps my feet feel secure. These shoes are going to get a lot of use this summer because they really go with any outfit - you can dress them up or down, and you don't have to bother with figuring out if they match what you're wearing, because odds are it already does. In Arizona the heat is dry and letting your feet breathe can mean facing a bit of dust but sometimes you must take the good with the mildly annoying :)

All in all my first experience with The White Company's clothing and accessories was great and I already see myself returning for more classic closet staples. If you're in the New York City area, I highly recommend stopping in at their first U.S. brick and mortar store.

This post is sponsored by The White Company. Products were given as part of payment for this post. All thoughts are my own. Photos by Rennai Hoefer.

REVIVE & HELPING HANDS

This is a face of pure joy, of sweet dreams, of a safe home, of no worries. This is Henry, the son of my best friend, and a couple days ago he graduated from a toddler bed to a "big boy" bed with a comfy Revive Mattress from Living Spaces. I got to play auntie and give him a mattress, and I get to giveaway two mattresses (one to a blog reader and one to their friend). EEEE!

For Henry, I selected the R2 mattress which has 11.5" foot of foam (gel foam, memory foam, contour foam and orthopedic support). This mattress is different than other ones out there because it has a .5" cooling fabric cover and copper gel foam. That's really important when Arizona nights can be upwards of 90 degrees.

Good sleep is priceless and crucial to growth and development for kids. In fact 10-13 hours of sleep is recommended for 3-5 year olds. If you're you going to spend half of your day in bed it should be a good one, right? I'm so glad I can help Henry have the best sleep of his dreams. I am also excited to spread the news that Living Spaces is helping foster care families and foster children in Arizona have same quality of sleep as Henry. Living Spaces has partnered with Arizona Helping Hands, and from June 26th - July16th, when you purchase a Premium Revive Mattress Set from a Revive Sleep Center in Arizona, a child in foster care will receive a free Revive Twin Mattress and Foundation. How amazing is that?!

Revive mattresses start at $450. You can get the full scoop and choose the right firmness (firm, medium, plush) and the size online. The mattress is shipped straight to your door in a box. I recommend opening up the box once you are in the bedroom and place it on your bed. Even your pets will come running. 

If you're interested in winning your own Revive mattress of your choice, check out the steps below.

• Between 12:01am PT June 26, 2017 and 11:59pm PT July 16, 2017, readers must follow @revivebyls on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/revivebyls and comment on the “Buy one Give One” image posted to the @revivebyls Instagram page on June 26, 2017 by tagging @avestyles and one (1) Instagram friend that they would like to win with. No other comments besides the name tags are required for entry. By entering the giveaway you are agreeing to follow @revivebyls on Instagram for the duration of the Giveaway. 

Alternative Method of Entry (“AMOE”):
Mail your name, phone number, address, and the name of the friend you’d like to win with you to:
Attn: Nikki Partise, Marketing Dept.
Living Spaces
14501 Artesia Blvd.
La Mirada CA 90638

• Eligibility: The Promotion is open only to permanent, legal residents legally residing in the U.S. from June 28-July 16, 2017. Promotional card is eligible for use in store only and cannot be used at livingspaces.com. Entrants must be at least 18 years of age. Employees of Living Spaces, Alexandra Evjen, and their immediate family members (defined as spouses and biological, adoptive or step-parents, legal guardians, children, siblings, or grandparents, their respective spouses and any dependent under federal income tax law) or household members are not eligible to participate in the Promotion. Void where prohibited by law. All applicable federal, state and local laws apply.

• You can read the full terms and conditions of the contest here:

This post is sponsored by Living Spaces, product was given as payment, Photos by Rennai Hoefer; 

4TH OF JULY STYLE

I always wear red, white and blue on the 4th of July. This year is no different, but this year feels different. And now more than ever, I believe celebrating being an American means recognizing the privilege that I have living here and the responsibility I have to be a leader as a global citizen, and so it's fitting to wear clothing from Mata Traders - a company that sells fair trade clothing from artisans in India and Nepal. 

Mata Traders helps end global poverty through original fashion designs that are created and done in fair trade with India and Nepal. Women in these communities are supported through the purchases of these clothes.  Mata also seeks to shed more light on ethical fashion, and to showcase that this can be done without sacrificing design integrity. 

Born with privilege, freedom and a voice, awareness about fair trade and ethical fashion is  something that matters to me and I will help support with my blog. I'll be the first to admit that I don't often wonder where my clothes come from, who made them and who determined the value, but I need to because my purchases have a global impact. Mata Traders takes the worry out of the purchase because you know where they are from and who made them.

But aside for all of the good they do, you just fall in love with everything the second you see it, like this gingham dress and a-line skirt. The fit is right on the money. I'm wearing a size small and I'm a 4/6, 34" bust line. They know women's bodies and they design for all types. They even have a curvy section for full-figured women. 

I'm 5'7" and the length is perfect. I'm not usually a dress or skirt wearing gal, but I was drawn to the simplicity of the line and the patterns. They are not only perfect for wearing for the 4th, but for every day life. Be sure to check out Mata Traders for ethically, well-made clothes. 

This post was sponsored by Mata Traders; All thoughts are my own. Photos by Rennai Hoefer.

REAL TALK REAL MOMS: FINDING YOUR CONFIDENCE

I never had to think about finding confidence in being a friend, a daughter or a spouse, but for some reason, finding confidence when I assumed the role of a mother was a struggle in the beginning. I deeply understood that my children were 100% dependent upon me to provide for their needs. Talk about intimidating! Social media pressure, peer pressure and familial pressure are much smaller fish compared to the reality of the responsibility of parenthood. And now more than ever, we are aware that our parenting choices condition our children to a certain extent and have lasting effects on their development (thank you science and research). So, how have I found confidence in my parenting along the way? Well, it's a combination of things:

1. My confidence isn't in myself, but in God. I believe that my children are a gift from God, created by God for His purposes. My children are really God's children entrusted to me to nurture them in the wisdom and love of Him. I try my best, I pray for my kids and at the end of the day I know that God loves them even more than I do (I can hardly imagine that). That gives me so much peace. 

2. I lean on God for wisdom in knowing my kids and what's best for them. There are many days where I feel like I don't know how to navigate my daughter's emotions or my son's health battles, but I believe that the discernment I have (that gut intuition) is really God guiding my heart and mind to the right decisions for my kids. There's nothing too small that I pray for either...from praying my kids would take naps to praying we would find the right doctors to choosing a school, I surrender it all. That, of course, doesn't mean I don't make a ton of mistakes because I sure make a lot of those. But I also know that when I make mistakes it's because I'm acting out of a bad place or not really thinking with wisdom. And, I also know that there is forgiveness and grace for me with the mistakes I made because of my beliefs. Knowing that makes me feel free and confident whereas aiming for perfectionism fills me with anxiety and fear. 

3. I surround myself with encouraging mothers. I have dear friends with kids that are the same age as mine and women who are now grandmothers. They are all supportive and encouraging people that have been in my shoes, and that's a comfort. They don't judge me when I share my mistakes, but they also don't let me keep making them. They encourage me through it, and I do the same for them (at least I'd like to think so). 

4. I set up boundaries with people that shame me for my choices. I'm always open to hearing feedback from people on other ways to approach problems or struggles. But, if I find people that continue to voice their opposing opinion over and over and over again in a shaming, passive aggressive or condescending way I set up a boundary. This has been a challenge for me, and I'm still trying to navigate it. Something that has helped is visualizing a rope surrounding me and creating a physical barrier that they cannot cross. The people that support me are on the inside of the circle and the others that don't are on the outside. Honestly, it helps me feel more free as I parent and make choices when I'm temped to people please. 

5. I remember that no parent has it 100% figured out and every child is different. I have especially found this to be true after having a second child and realizing what worked for Elle doesn't always work for Levi. Just knowing that alone has made me take everything parents say with a grain of salt. What works for their kid isn't always what is going to work for mine. At the end of the day, I just have to do what works for my family.

6. If my kids make bad choices that doesn't mean I'm a bad parent. We cannot control our children. We can guide them the best that we can, but I cannot make Elle's choices for her. So, when she makes bad choices I try to remember the blame isn't all on me. Of course, I try to work with her on making the right ones for the future, but coming to this realization earlier than later is vital to holding confidence as a parent. I know many mothers that deal with toxic shame when their child has turned to drugs or made other unfortunate decisions, and that shame can eat at you far beyond confidence as a parent but as a person all together The only thing you can control is yourself. That's it. And all you can do is your best. That's it. Surrender the rest. 

I would love to hear what has helped you find your confidence as a parent, and be sure to read thoughts from other mamas in this series: The Effortless Chic, Design for Mankind, A Daily Something; The Fresh Exchange, The Sweetest Occasion, Apartment 34, Oh Lovely Day, Design Addict Mom, The LIfe Styled 

Photos by Rennai Hoefer

NUEVA NEW YORK - A TWIST ON THE MANHATTAN

Out of the three cocktails Barrel Aged Dad has taught me to make this one is my personal favorite because it involves wine and tequila (my alcohol of choice usually). Jason took the classic Manhattan and give it the wild west treatment by swapping whiskey for tequila and vermouth for wine. Yowza! The classic cocktail originated in New York City, but it's far from home in taste while the appearance and beauty remains classic.  This is a great cocktail if you want to wow your special guy for Father's Day with presentation and bar skills because it requires a bit more technique (two things that I don't have, but I will totally look like I have with this cocktail). 

NUEVA NEW YORK COCKTAIL
2 oz Anejo tequila (Kirkland brand at Costco is a great bargain, $20)
1 oz Lillet Rouge
1 barspoon agave nectar (about 2 teaspoons)
2 dashes Scrappys Bitters Chocolate Bitters

Add ingredients to mixing glass with ice, stir, fine strain into a cold coupe glass. Express the oils from an orange peel over drink, discard peel. Garnish with Luxardo cherries. 

Add ingredients to mixing glass with ice

Stir briskley. 

fine strain into a cold coupe glass

Garnish with Luxardo cherries

Be sure to check out our other cocktails for more ideas for what to serve on Father's Day,  as well as my gift guides. Follow Barrel Aged Dad for additional cocktail inspiration. 

Photos by Rennai Hoefer