3 WAYS TO NOT LOSE YOURSELF IN MOTHERHOOD

Motherhood comes with a lot of changes, and while most of them are amazing and wonderful, there are also a lot of changes that can make it feel like you'll just never be your old self again, that you have to have padded walls and plastic everything in your house, and that you'll never have time to do your hair or makeup ever again.

That's why I love baby products that are functional and well-designed, but they don't scream that you have small children. I teamed up with Munchkin today to check out their new Luna baby gate, and I was instantly impressed. It was super quick and easy to install (just a little turnkey that adjusts the width), it comes with add-ons to make it super wide (hallelujah, I've been looking for an extra wide baby gate for years!), the gate opens either way, and it even has a motion detector light at the base for night time. It gives all the function without being another cluttery, bulky baby essential.

I try to make an effort to keep my home beautiful on top of having babies, so I love that this gate allows me to do both.

And inspired by the Luna baby gate, these are three other things I do to not completely lose myself in motherhood:

1. Make time for me. With little kids, it's easy to let some things fall by the side, like getting ready for the day, or reading a book just for you, or taking a trip without kids. It's definitely more of an effort to do these things, but when you make the time for yourself so you feel like a real, functioning adult, you're such a much better mom.

2. Find momiform wardrobe pieces that make you feel like an adult. There are times when I just want to wear sweats and a tee, but it's important to have a few pieces in your closet that are mom friendly but make you feel put together. Like a stretchy dress (like this one that's easy to move in, but super flattering), a great pair of jeans, a nice button up shirt, or a cute pair of ankle boots instead of flip flops. They're easy things to buy that make a big difference in how you look and feel, and they're just as easy to throw on as sweats.

3.  Get out of the house without the kids. Whether it's date night, girls night, or just hiring a babysitter for an hour so you can get out and take a walk or go to the grocery store by yourself, it's important to get out of the house. I'm a total homebody, but being home all day every day, day after day, can mess with your mental health as a mom. Don't forget to get outside and interact with other adults on an adult level!

Find the Munchkin Luna baby gate right here!

created in partnership with Munchkin

photos by rad and happy

THE SECRET TO WEARING BASICS EFFORTLESSLY

One of my very favorite momiform looks is a basic t-shirt and jeans. It's such a simple look, but when done right it can create an effortless, super chic look.

BUT a basic jeans and tee look can also look really frumpy -- it's all about the right clothing and the right undergarments.

If either of these two things are ill-fitting, it can kill the entire look. So today I teamed up with Vanity Fair to take you through my favorite bra that every woman (especially moms) needs, and then later we'll talk about which basic jeans and tees are the best.

. . .

The three most important things I look for in a good bra is comfort, support, and versatility. As a mom of three little active boys, I'm on the floor, I'm running around, I'm catching and kicking soccer and bouncy balls, and bending/leaning/stretching/rolling/you name it as I take care of these dudes. You mama's know! So I need something to give me support and keep me feeling comfortable, but also one that I can wear with nicer outfits (not just t-shirts) and feel beautiful.

When I was in New York a few months ago with Vanity Fair, I tried on a bunch of their bras. And the Beauty Back line was my favorite, specifically the wireless bra. It is an absolute dream bra. It has a nice sturdy strap that doesn't move, it's a thin, breathable, 4-way-stretch material that smooths out any lumps and bumps (especially on your upper back), and it has a full cup so you don't get any lines underneath your clothing. It is literally a mom dream bra!

But the Beauty Back Line has more options including strapless, underwire, full figure, and more. You can shop their entire line here, but seriously you need this one!!

photos by rad and happy

created in partnership with Vanity Fair

TWO TRENDS FOR FALL + THREE WAYS TO WEAR THEM

Two big trends for fall this year are boho and olive. I love the seventies inspired pieces that stem from these two trends, like bell sleeves, crocheted details and muted colors, and I especially love that both trends are easy to subtly incorporate into your look without feeling like a flower girl.

I teamed up with Stein Mart today to share three looks, and a few tips for adding these trends to your looks so they give a nod to the trends without being overwhelming. And of course finding trendy pieces at amazing prices makes the deal even sweeter, and Stein Mart has such great discounts on great quality brands!

. . .

For this first look, I combined the two trends with a classic olive utility jacket, which is a piece you all need in your closet! It's a neutral, casual jacket that goes with anything and always looks amazing paired with feminine pieces.

I styled it with this pretty little crocheted hem top (that's on sale for under $20!) that's a great top to throw on and look like you made an effort, and finished the look with these d'orsay flats that I absolutely love. Such an easy, relaxed look for everyday!

TIP: Try the boho trend by incorporating little bits of it into your look, like on the bottom of a hemline or with a pair of boho inspired shoes!

For my second look, I found this classic shirt dress in this pretty dark olive for less than $50, and although I styled it in a really simple way with just a pair of pretty sandals, it's a great piece to layer under a chunky pullover sweater, a cardigan sweater or a leather jacket as the weather cools. Or you could layer a striped turtleneck underneath for a little extra warmth and a pop of pattern!

TIP: When trying a trend (like olive), find it in a classic piece like a shirtdress or button down top!

You guys know I love a good dress, so this find was amazing since this dress is under $40. I sized up for length and a little looseness, and it's a perfect day or evening dress! Wear it with flats during the day, and heels and a jacket at night.


TIP: Choose dresses that are versatile for day and night, and add trends with your accessories like a pair of lace up heels!

OUTFIT 1: JACKET  ||  WHITE TOP  ||  FLATS

OUTFIT 2: SHIRT DRESS

OUTFIT 3: BOHO DRESS  || SANDALS

Find lots more good deals right here!

photos by rad and happy

created in partnership with Stein Mart

THE SNEAKERS YOU MUST HAVE

DRESS  ||  JACKET  ||  SNEAKERS  ||  HANDBAG

One of this year's biggest trends is sneakers. I've been pretty much obsessed with this trend since day one, and it's basically a mom's dream come true trend.

I've tried so many pairs over the last year, and although I've found tons of good ones, I just recently discovered the best pair ever -- these perforated Keds. I mean, I probably shouldn't do a blanket statement like that since there are lots of amazing sneaks out there, but seriously, these are my favorite of all the sneakers I've tried.

I love how small and lightweight they are, so they don't make my feet look or feel clunky. They're easy to slip in and out of (but don't fall off of my feet when I walk, even when they're loosely tied), they go with everything, and the leather upper makes them easy to wipe clean. And for nice sneakers, they're really reasonably priced.

I've been wearing them non-stop with skirts, dresses, shorts, jeans, and even sweatpants and a tee for a cool athleisure look. They go with everything. I paired them here with a little black dress and anorak jacket for a simple, laid back look.

Have I convinced you to snag a pair yet? They're true to size and definitely comfortable enough to wear with socks, and if you're in the market for a pair of sneakers, these are the ones you need.

But if you're still not convinced, the widget below has a few more of my favorite sneakers from Nordstrom right now. The metallic sneaker trend is huge right now and I'm already anxious to try it!

photos by rad and happy

created in partnership with Nordstrom

ICE CREAM DATE

Sponsored by Zappos

Tomorrow we go back to school. We're pretty much the last school district in the world to finish summer break, but I haven't minded a bit. This summer has been glorious. We've had a lot of traveling between Philip and I, but between all the busyness of travel, we've laid really low and spent a lot of days at home sleeping in, playing games, building forts, reading books, and of course building with Legos (my boys' absolute favorite).

But one great thing about heading back to school is a little more one on one time with my boys. I've missed my "Mornings with Foster," and even though we'll have a little tagalong baby most of the time, I'm excited to have that time without B so Fos can just talk and share and communicate with me.

It seems like he's grown about a foot this summer -- a huge chunk of his clothes suddenly don't fit him anymore, he's losing his little baby speech impediments, and he's amazing me daily with his smarts and independence.

Since he needed a few new things for school (since he's grown out of so much of his wardrobe), we picked up some things from Zappos. They're one of my favorite shopping go-to's because they have a huge selection and then their fast, free shipping makes it easy to get things, even at the last minute (not that I'm ever running behind...ha!).

I've had my eye on Superga sneakers for a few months, so I picked up matching pairs for us -- navy high-tops for him, and metallic silver for me (you know I can't ever say no to a good pair of sneakers).

I love that his zip up on the side so he can put them on by himself (ahem, independence), and I love that mine are a really slim and sleek sneak that I can pair with all sorts of things, but especially dresses.

Superga sneakers come in a ton of fabrics and colors, but they're all the same sleek design that go with everything. And now they're all over Zappos -- check them out right here!

photos by rad and happy

7 WAYS TO BE A HAPPIER MOM

his little bald head gets me every time! His hair is so blonde and there's so little of it. 

they're super obsessed with him.  

and he doesn't know how to feel about it

SAN'S OUTFIT:  PANTS  ||  SWEATER  ||  MOCCS

B'S OUTFIT:  JEANS  ||  SHIRT  ||  SHOES

FOS' OUTFIT: PANTS  ||  SHIRT  ||  SHOES  

MY OUTFIT:  JEANS  || TEE (similar here)  ||  ANKLE BOOTS (similar here, here, and here)  ||  CROSSBODY BAG

This week we go back to school. We did our last bit of back to school shopping last week, everyone got haircuts (I used to dream of a whole bunch of little boys piling in the bathroom and me cutting their hair one by one, and now it's a reality!) and the boys look so grown up and handsome. I ordered a few things from Nordstrom for this year because they have such dang cute things. Tucker + Tate and Mini Boden are two of my favorite brands that Nordstrom carries, and I love being able to pick up everything for them all at once. 

This summer I discovered these People slip-on shoes. They're light and breathable, easy to pull on, and super comfortable (my boys love wearing them). And I love that they come in a bunch of colors and in a huge range of sizes. I'd picked up a pair for F a few months ago, and he loved them so much that I picked up a pair for B too. 

I've been reflecting back on this summer and I've learned a few things over the last few months. I've been working through this list for a few weeks as I've thought about the summer, and I wanted to share. 

These are 7 ways that have helped me be a happier mom. 

1. Block out your time. I really like to multitask because I feel like I'm getting a lot of things done at once, but I've come to realize this year that I'm really bad at multitasking. If I try to do multiple things at once, my brain isn't fully there with either of them and it takes nearly twice as long. I've discovered that if I block out specific afternoon, then I'm not tempted to work in the morning when I'm with my kids. I'm certainly not perfect, and having my phone around always makes it harder, but I'm trying every day to be better about keeping my work time and my mom time separate so I can give 100% to both.

2. Find your own sunshine. I wrote about this last year (you can read the post here if you'd like) and when I went back to read it, it was a great reminder and I still think it's all so true. You're the one who is responsible for your attitude and happiness. Don't rely on other people. Find something to look forward to every day. Smile! Do things that make you happy. Make little things special. I fill my home with flowers, go get a random manicure, decorate our table to make dinnertime special, or whatever other random thing makes me feel happy.

3. Take care of yourself. Motherhood is not an easy task. So much physical, mental, and emotional exertion is put forth in taking care of these little people, so make sure you take time to take care of you. For me, it's usually putting on makeup, doing my hair, and putting on a pretty dress for the day (seriously, I love this one and it's so comfortable!) It makes a world of difference in how I feel. For others, it's exercise, meditation, taking a nap, getting a manicure, going to a movie...anything. Just do what will make you feel happy and recharge those mom batteries.

4. Be kind to other people. My sweet friend Tara is the best at this, and I've learned so much from her over the past couple of years since I've known her. She compliments everyone, especially other people's children. She finds specific features or traits and then mentions those. It's an instant ice breaker because all barriers come down when you're kind. Every mom is obsessed with their baby, so having someone notice your child is such a wonderful feeling as a mom. And if you're making other moms feel good, you're guaranteed to feel good too.

5. Connect with other women. This is huge for me, especially as a mom. It's easy to get bogged down in the day to day, and feel like you don't have time to attend parties or playgroups or church/community events. And you don't have to attend every single one. But getting out of your house and out of your comfort zone to meet other women (especially other moms) is a life line. I will always make this a priority.

6. Learn to say no. I struggle with this one because I'm a pleaser. I want everyone to be happy, and I always think I can do it. The reality is that you just can't do everything, and trying to do it all will cause stress, unhappiness, and resentment. Save yourself all the trouble and learn to say no to anything that's not going to make your life better.

7. Laugh it off. Don't take yourself so seriously. When something goes wrong, find the humor in it and don't let it bother you. Don't take offense. After almost ten years of marriage and six and half years of parenting, I've loosened up a lot. I used to get so bugged by little things and let it ruin my day...but I've realized that helps no one and never ends well. So I've learned to take a split second when something happens and have a little debate in my head about how to react. And I try to always just laugh it off, and that changes everything.

What things help you be a happier mom (or woman in general)? Leave me a comment below!

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photos by rad and happy

created in partnership with Nordstrom

THE OUTFIT THAT FEELS LIKE ME

TOP  (similar here)  ||  JEANS  ||  ANKLE BOOTS  ||  JACKET  ||  BAG 

Do you guys have outfits that just feel like you? I don't think there's just one of these kinds of outfits for everyone -- I have a lot of outfits that I put on that feel like me (like this one and this one). But I love putting something together that just feels right, you know?

I sometimes have a hard time pinpointing my own style, but consistent thing is basics with a little twist. My ankle boots are a classic style, but the cutouts make them special and unique. I love a good striped top, and this one has a tie up neckline that makes it stand out. I love a neutral bag with a fun tassel, or a pair of jeans with just enough distressing. They're just the little things that add personality and interest to an otherwise basic outfit!

Shop my look and a few other "basics with a twist" pieces from Nordstrom in the widget below!

photos by rad and happy

created in partnership with nordstrom