A month ago, my purse and John’s wallet were stolen. They were taken out of our car which was parked, unlocked (our mistake – marital miscommunication), a short distance from our neighborhood’s tennis court while we played. It must have been an intense game, because we both noticed nothing. While our phones and sunglasses were on us, our credit cards, money, face masks, wallets, car keys, house keys, gift cards, rewards cards, and June’s camera, among other things, were gone.
After the flurry of requesting replacements and rekeying our house and cars, I was left with a handful of credit cards, new keys, and nowhere to put them. The purse that was stolen was my everyday purse – meaning, the one that I carried literally every day – so replacing it was a top priority.
Even more immediate, though, was replacing my wallet. My sister-in-law graciously sent me the sweetest card case to tide me over while I looked, but I still felt discombobulated without a home base whenever I left the house. (Which, granted, has not been as often as usual!)
The wallet that was stolen was a Kate Spade I bought in 2012. It was the prettiest pale blue leather, and I loved the button closure and generous number of card slots. I would have gladly bought the same thing again (it was still in great shape!), but there’s nothing similar on their site right now.
Instead, I chose the Neely & Chloe zip wallet in Steel Blue with a gold foil “EM” embossing. The color is absolutely perfect in person, and I love that the purchase supports a small business. While I still don’t feel completely at home in it (we get used to what we’re used to!), I’m happy have a spot to keep everything together once again.
Now – let’s talk about a purse replacement. This will not surprise many of you, but I have carried essentially the same bag since college (going on 12 years!). It’s the smallest Longchamp Le Pliage in black, and I actually did replace it a few years ago, when we were in Paris – but with exactly the same thing :)
Unless I was going to a fancy occasion, that was the purse I carried, day in and day out – with every outfit, to every occasion. Honestly, I’d be happy to buy it again, but I feel like I should at least consider other options after more than a decade. But, when I think about ALL the options out there, I get overwhelmed quickly. So that’s where I’d love your help!
Here’s my criteria: — I don’t want any crazy patterns or colors, and I prefer a classic, feminine look. — I don’t care for black leather. Although my Le Pliage was black, I would choose a camel or navy over black in most instances. — I am looking for a small to medium handbag or tote – nothing too large. I’m open to a handbag or something I carry over my shoulder, but am not looking for a crossbody. I need it to fit my wallet, glasses case, a few little pouches, face mask, pen, hand sanitizer, a snack, etc. — I am willing to spend up to about $300, given that I expect to carry this bag every day for many years, but of course, I’d love to spend less. The Le Pliage is just over $100 right now online (but — fun fact — sells for about $75 in Paris!).
So, friends, help a girl out! What bag would you point me toward? Do you carry a bag you love? I’d love to hear – it will help me narrow down the insane number of options…
Here’s a question for you: do you wear makeup every day?
Most days? Some days? Never?
For a long time, I’ve worn some makeup pretty much every day – usually under-eye concealer, a light BB cream, cream blush, a little bit of setting powder, and a tiny bit of eyeliner on the lower outer corners of my eyes. Sometimes mascara.
It’s not really a “fun” thing for me (it’s also not not-fun – just neutral!), but I do like how I look when I wear it. It’s hardly noticeable, but with makeup, my complexion is just a little more even and my eyes are a little more prominent.
The second day we were in Maine this year, though, I put on my usual sunscreen and then… walked out the door. Why? A few reasons, I think:
1) In this particular community, it’s an established norm. Most Islanders subscribe to the classic New England throw-on-a-hat-and-call-it-a-day look. Many people wear tees, shorts, and sandals every day; I’m in good company with a no-makeup look.
2) I’ve known these people my whole life, and they’ve known me – I’m known and loved. I feel like one of the reasons I wear makeup in my “normal life” is to try to manage the first impressions of others, and that’s not necessary here.
3) It’s an active place. We’re in the water, in the sun, on the boat, walking, swimming, playing tennis. There’s little point in spending too much time applying product just to have it wash off a few hours later.
4) I rarely look in the mirror there. At home or at work, I pass mirrors several times a day and give myself a once-over each time. I spend a LOT more time outside in Maine, and it seems to be out of sight, out of mind with me – I just think about what I look like a lot less.
5) When I’m in a beautiful place, I find I care less about my own beauty. I’m just grateful to be there, and I already feel like my best self living my best life :)
In my continual quest to live my best Maine life at home, I’ve been forgoing makeup more often since our return. These days, I’d say I’m wearing it about 4/7 days a week. I generally don’t wear it on days we’re planning to ride our bikes, or days I’m working from home and won’t be “on camera.” I’d love to get to the point where a CC cream or concealer doesn’t make any difference, and my hope is that by wearing makeup less often and letting my skin breathe, I’ll get there faster! :)
This is a topic that could go much broader and deeper, but we’ll leave it there for today. I welcome your thoughts on any of this, but mostly I’m curious: do you wear makeup every day?
Photos from Maine, sans makeup. Affiliate links are used in this post!
Do y’all still take yearly photos with your extended family? We do, and we joke that the real purpose of our annual Maine vacation is so that my Mom can get her Christmas card photo with everyone present and accounted for – ha! Joking aside, we all love looking back at how our family composition has changed over the years, and acquiesce to the yearly photo session with minimal grumbling.
As my family’s resident “creative person,” I always get tasked with deciding on the year’s outfit color scheme. Outfitting a ten-plus person grouping, with kids, babies, adults, and grandparents in the mix (all with varying preferences and styles) and is not for the faint of heart. Since we’re in the thick of preparing for our family photo right now, I thought I’d share a few of the tips I’ve gathered over the years — both for outfitting, and for the photo session itself!
1. Think ahead. Depending on how often your family gathers together, you might have to take a photo months ahead of Christmas if the goal is to have a photo ready for a holiday card. My family is scattered, but one of the most reliable times we’re all together is in the summer, so that’s usually when we take our photo. (This year is an exception!)
2. Make an outfit plan. For our family, the goal is to look casually — not cheese-ily — coordinated. We don’t want to look like we’re trying too hard :) With a big group, it’s important to have a wide-enough palette that you’re not all stuck in one of two colors. A mix of textures and patterns can also go a long way toward a look with depth, as well as different shades within your palette. The goal isn’t to match perfectly, but just to look like you belong together! (That goes for the level of formality and the seasonality, too!)
I usually pull two color palette options (using inspiration photos like these) and then ask my mom and sisters which they’d prefer. Once we’ve chosen our palette, everyone is responsible for selecting their family’s outfits. Sometimes I start a Google Doc to track what everyone is wearing; other times we just bring several options and make final decisions the day of.
3. Choose a location. My MOST IMPORTANT location criteria isn’t aesthetic at all: it’s to choose one that’s inconspicuous! The last thing you want while wrangling multiple generations is to feel rushed or awkward, so pick a spot where there will be few passersby and you can take as much time as you need (or pause to regroup as necessary). To let your faces shine, a simple backdrop is best – a colored wall, porch steps, a fence, stone wall, evergreen hedge, etc. Avoid distracting colors, signage, and clutter as much as possible.
If at all possible, take your photo outdoors – it will be WAY easier to get a well-lit, professional-looking result, even if you’re just using an iPhone.
4. Pose. If you have an especially large group, it can be helpful to incorporate levels, like a chair, bench, rock, or fence for some people to sit on. From there, have fun! Look at each other and then back at the camera, throw in some fake laughter (because it always results in real laughter!), and squeeze in close enough to each other that it feels awkward :)
5. Take the picture. Some folks use a tripod and remote clicker set up, which sounds awesome but isn’t something I have experience with. We usually use the newest iPhone in the group (ha!), either with the timer function or in the capable hands of a cousin or friend (remember, we’re usually taking our photos on vacation in Maine). Enlisting a photographer is especially helpful when you have young kiddos in the group, as the likelihood of smiles goes up!
Of course, working with a professional photographer is the ultimate, and well worth the splurge if you can swing it! Many of my favorite photographers hold “mini sessions” in the early fall, which are shorter sessions at a lower price point and PERFECT for capturing a large group.
And now, a few of our family’s photos from years past…
And a favorite outtake :)
Any tips you’d add? Do y’all still take yearly photos with your siblings and parents?
Did anyone else experience the post-pregnancy clothes buying surge? After seemingly wearing the same two dresses, one shirt, and one pair of shorts for my final two months, I was ready for something new!! My buying “spree” resulted in three finds I want to tell you about…
Not me, but I kind of really want those pants :)
First up: these jean shorts from, of all places, American Eagle. My maternity jean shorts (which I LIVED in this summer) had a longer inseam than my normal ones, and when I put back on my normal ones after Shep’s birth, they just felt… short. I remembered my friend Shay sharing that she wore AE ones, and sure enough, with a 4″ inseam, their “midi” style is just longer than the jean options available at most stores. They are quite stretchy and run small, so I’d recommend sizing up a size or two.
Next: this shirt. Also from American Eagle. (What?!) It is soft and cozy, but also looks pulled together. Also, nursing-friendly! And I feel like a character in a Nancy Meyers movie when I wear it, so there’s that. I first bought the white, then when I went to link this post last night, I bought the blue because it’s now on super sale and I love it so much. I sized up to a medium (I usually wear a small or XS) for a looser fit.
Finally: these jeans. I CANNOT say enough good things about them, and am joining the chorus of several friends who also sing their praises. I have previously been a J.Crew and LOFT jeans gal, but these outshine them both. At the risk of sounding rhapsodic, from the minute I stuck my foot inside I could tell they were well made, with the right amount of stretch and a great weight to the denim. I love the wash, I love the high waist, and I love that they look great cuffed or straight. Plus, they’re a great price – $60 on sale right now! And they feel SO GOOD on. Would highly recommend if you’re in the market! (These fit true-to-size for me.)
After reading this post from Young House Love, I realized I’m inching toward my own “uniform”… and it looks like a lot of dusty blue, navy, denim, white/cream, and tan. (That’s why I chose the photo above – it would fit right in in my closet!) There might be a post in the making as I explore this more, if you’re interested! :)
