To me, there’s nothing cuter than little girls in swimsuits. If you haven’t noticed from previous posts, I have a thing with little girls’ swimwear. As in, I can never have enough. And I always have to have more. Justifiably, we spend a lot of time in the pool, so my girls definitely get their use out of their swimsuits. Continue reading “SPOTLIGHT: STELLA COVE SWIMWEAR”
“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy
Fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high”
With Spring Break in the past, that means Summer is right around the corner. In one month my alarm will no longer be set, and I couldn’t be more excited! We will be footloose and fancy free. While I love the structure and routine the school year gives us, there’s something to be said for the ease of the summer.
What do your kids look forward to in the summer? Is it summer camp? Is it sleeping in? I know mine enjoy the slow pace of our summer mornings. Waking up, staying in pjs, and not rushing to be anywhere. We live without a schedule for the months of June and July. While I may register each of the girls for one summer camp, camps don’t fill our calendar.
I much prefer being noncommittal. I love spontaneity. I much prefer things happening on a whim in the summertime. the pool. the movies. two-hour lunches. sprinklers. sno cones. shopping. day trips to New Orleans. popsicles. sleepovers. books. picnics. visiting friends and family. ice cream. bicycle rides. walks. lemonade. museums. etc.
Outfit Details: Surf Bazaar Lounge Tunic // Ray-Ban Round Fleck sunglasses // Le Papier Studio custom silhouette charm necklace // Nellystella Ava Dress // Nellystella Wren Dress // Las Bayadas La Lucia Beach Blanket // Friendship bracelets (made by Eloise)
Photography by Stefanie Cascio Photography.
I recently posted about beach lifestyle photoshoots and what to wear; however, studio shoots are a bit different in my opinion. Below are a few things I like to remember when styling my family for studio photoshoots.
Have you noticed that gingham is everywhere lately? I’ve always been a fan of the print, both in it’s original, smaller scale and in its exaggerated, buffalo check. It resonates well with my personal style: both timeless and understated in design, yet current with updated silhouettes. I find it’s a pattern than nearly goes with anything and can be easily accessorized and layered.
I’ve been drawn to the print for swimwear specifically this season (as you may have noticed from photos of my recent trip to Rosemary Beach, Florida). I love the color choices out there, too! Below is a roundup of pieces that have caught my eye perfect for mama and me styling.
Shopping Details: Girls’ Cutout One-Piece Swimsuit in mixed neon gingham // Hula Star Girls’ Summer Skies Gingham One-Piece Swimsuit // Carter’s Gingham Swimsuit [under $20!] // Girls’ one-piece swimsuit in oversized rainbow gingham // Gingham off-the-shoulder swim top // Gingham bikini boy short // Vera Moda Gingham Bandeau Bikini with Scallop Trim // Gingham tunic
Did you see my post a few days ago in that precious off-the-shoulder gingham swimsuit?
Outfit Details: j.crew gingham off-the-shoulder bikini // quay sunglasses // mara hoffman girls bikini // zeroUV sunglasses // tassel earring
Or the same post of the girls in their classic black and white gingham bikinis and my favorite gingham one-piece?
Outfit Details: mara hoffman tie front one piece // oversized round sunglasses // tassel earrings // la coqueta gingham bikini // j.crew factory girls’ round sunglasses // j.crew factory girls’ colorblock sunglasses
Meet Eloise (7) and Charlotte Cate (4)! They are the inspiration behind Mama etc. Anyone who knows me, knows my intense love of children’s clothing and my desire to go above and beyond to match or coordinate my girls. I spend countless hours “designing” and planning outfits at trunk shows such as Red Beans or Alice Kathleen. I scour Gilt.com daily looking for the perfect complimentary styles. I even love searching the racks at Target and Old Navy to find easy pieces to layer with the right accessories.
Last week’s vacation to Rosemary Beach, FL was no exception. Each day the girls were perfectly coordinated on the beach for three fun days in the sun!
“Dress them up, let them play & take a ton of pictures.” – unknown
Outfit Details: zeroUV sunglasses // lolli swim sweetheart bow back one piece swimsuit // stella cove yellow swimsuit // sunnylife kiddy flamingo float
While vacationing on 30A’s Rosemary Beach, FL, I, too, coordinated with my girls on the beach! While they wore matching suits, I took colors and patterns from their suits as inspiration when finding the perfect “mama” suit to coordinate. Mara Hoffman’s prints are always the best in my opinion and finding gingham, one of this season’s hottest trends, to coordinate made perfect sense. I love the mix of modern and traditional details that make matching feel more 2017 and less Laura Ashley.
Outfit Details: j.crew gingham off-the-shoulder bikini // quay sunglasses // mara hoffman girls bikini // zeroUV sunglasses // tassel earring
Outfit Details: mara hoffman tie front one piece // oversized round sunglasses // tassel earrings // la coqueta gingham bikini // j.crew factory girls’ round sunglasses // j.crew factory girls’ colorblock sunglasses
Outfit Details: past season Mara Hoffman coverup // past season Mara Hoffman girls one piece // ombre tassel earrings // rimless sunglasses // le papier studio silhouette charm necklace
As a Baton Rouge, Louisiana mom of two girls, I’m a huge fan of Two Sisters Bows. Two Sisters Bows specializes in hand made hair bows for girls of all ages. Their self-proclaimed “perky” hair bows set them apart from manufactured styles.
Owner, Sherri Acosta, founded Two Sisters Bows in 2003. She created an “open loop” hair bow that actually perches on the head instead of lying flat and withstands the accidental ‘stuffing into a dresser drawer.’ Growing more and more popular in local circles, she began to take orders for her bows instead of friends buying the bows off of her daughters’ heads at preschool! Soon she was selling bows wholesale to local children’s boutiques and specialty shops and eventually her own children’s boutique in Baton Rouge, LA. Now, Two Sisters Bows is marketed through sales representatives in the Dallas Market Center, the Atlanta ApparelMart, online and through over 100 specialty shops throughout the country.
Two Sisters Bows believes in using top quality ribbon that is Made in the USA. They also believe it’s essential for their customers to have the choices they want along with the quality they expect. Each of their bows are individually hand made, painted, stoned with crystals and/or embroidered to order.
Two Sisters Bows are a staple in our home. Our favorite bows are the hand painted bows. We have bows for every holiday and occasion. We had a custom bow painted for our trip to New York. We also love the crystal bows. The girls each wore custom crystal bows with their Halloween costumes this year.
1.Rainbow Unicorn bow // 2. Orange Crystals Bow 3. Soda Shop Sweets Bow // 4. Hot Pink Bow
Outfit Details: Two Sisters Bows // Cat and Jack for Target pink eyelet dress // Mes Demoiselles tunic // Ombre pink tassel earrings
Each year during family beach trips, we always make an effort to take our “family beach pictures.” It’s definitely not something my husband, Mark, looks forward to, and it’s something I most definitely overthink. I usually have a vision weeks (okay, maybe months) before our trip, having every last detail planned, but this year things were different. I figured, I’d just “wing” it. I packed everyone’s bags without coordinating “picture” outfits. I figured I wouldn’t stress about it, and if we got pictures, great. If not, that was great too.
While shopping at Outpost, one of my most favorite shopping spots ever on 30A (or maybe in the world), I found the most perfect coordinating outfits for a photoshoot … should one transpire!
Outfit Details: Elina Lebessi blue and white kaftan // tassel earrings // Nellystella Zoe dress // lil’ lemons by For Love & Lemons Little Daisy Bow Dress
What to wear for family photos?
Below are a few photos from another beach trip. Notice how my kaftan was the inspirational piece. The girls’ swimsuits coordinated, and they were comfortable. This shoot took place around 7AM, and the girls had the best time with the beach to themselves!
Outfit Details: past season Mara Hoffman kaftan // past season Seafolly girls’ flamingo bikini
Photography by Stefanie Cascio Photography.
As I continue to unveil who Mama etc., you should know …
We are a basketball family. My husband, Mark, coaches high school basketball so we eat, live, and breathe basketball … nearly year-round. During the season, my girls and I look forward to games. They have cheerleader and Bruinette costumes, and it’s always a debate over which one to wear. All three of us (Eloise, Charlotte Cate, and I) are at every home game; and we attend most away games. On occasion, I’m known to get a babysitter for the girls on school nights so I can catch a game solo. So much is invested into these teams being a coach’s wife, that I care too much not to go. Being a coach’s family is a way of life. It’s hard work; we share our Papa with a basketball team full of high school boys and their families, but we wouldn’t trade it for the world! It’s a life we absolutely love.
As you can see, the girls love the excitement and entertainment of game nights. I’m often asked, do y’all really go to every home game? Yes. Even on school nights? Yes. It’s important to realize different things work for different families. Bedtime isn’t an issue, at least not yet, on game nights. The girls go to the games having already finished homework, eaten dinner, and taken baths. While running on the court is always a favorite after the game, it’s a privilege reserved for Friday nights. The girls change into pajamas for the car ride home. And if I’m lucky, they fall asleep in the car.
As mamas, we need to remember balance. It’s okay to let the day-to-day rules slide from time-to-time. Learn to let things go, take time to relax, and have fun!
Outfit Details: Two Sisters Bows // Custom cheerleader uniforms
Raising girls might be one of the hardest jobs there is in the world. Especially in a society where we’re taught to be a certain size or have a certain shape. A society where appearance matters. A society where if you’re not pretty enough, you’re not good enough.
It’s important, as mamas (and papas), that we instill confidence in our girls. That we show them how important they are. That we teach them to break through barriers. That they know they can do anything. That it’s important to be themselves. We must instill in them to be funny, strong, fierce, courageous, adventurous, silly, creative, assertive, proud, wild, stubborn. Instill in them to be powerful. Let them know we love whoever they are, and that they change for no one!
Charlotte Cate is an example of one of these strong girls of today. She’s spunky and strong-willed. She loves superheroes, but also loves princesses. She loves Nike shorts and messy hair, but also loves fairy princess costumes and bows. She loves wrestling, but also loves snuggling. She’s not afraid of anyone, and will put you in your place if you deserve it. While she’s challenging to parent as a young child, I hope she never changes. I hope her strong will and confidence push her through times of hesitation or uncertainty in her life. The world needs more Charlotte Cates, for the future is female!
Charlotte Cate’s teacher recommended the book, Strong is the New Pretty by Kate T. Parker. It became a fast favorite in our home. It showcases more than 175 photographs of girls ages 5 to 18. It shows the the strength and spirit of girls being 100% themselves.
Outfit Details: Two Sisters Bows crystal bow // Fairy Princess dress (super comfortable and not itchy) // Hunter boots
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