Fashiondiaries

My Instagram looks!

When I started my blog 3 months pregnant, I received many comments stating this will be difficult to keep up once baby gets here. In my head I thought to myself….I’ve survived many sleepless nights studying for dental school exams, I’ve got this. Here I am almost 2 years later struggling to find time to get weekly posts in. Not to mention we only have one child!! Motherhood is tough. It’s time consuming, exhausting, but also the best thing thats ever happened to me. Carlota is changing and growing daily and I don’t want to miss a second of it. If that means sporadic blog posts….so be it.

We are currently in Spain and just got back to Barcelona from the the Costa Brava. With no wifi where we were staying I had to take a mandatory break from this post. I can’t wait to write all about our vacation. So far Carlota has been having a blast and enjoying the beach, water and being completely spoiled by her grandparents.

There have been a few looks on Instagram that didn’t make the blog. I wanted to link some of those items for you here!

Necklace: SheIn (also here and similar here) //

Top: Here (On sale but different shades here and here) //

Purse: Here (More affordable here and on major sale here) //

Necklace: SheIn (also here and similar here) //

Tank: On sale Here //

Shorts: Here (These are also similar) //

Tank: Here (on sale) //

Skirt: Here (on sale) //

On Carlota:

Tee: Gap (New version here) //

Tutu: Etsy shop (Similar here and here) //

Blouse: Equipment (Similar and on sale here and here) //

Jeans: Zara (Similar here and here) //

Wedges: Here (More affordable version here) //

Sweater weather??

It’s still winter in most areas of the world but certainly not in LA. It almost feels like summer is right around the corner. I can probably pack up my oversized sweaters for next year, but I just can’t help myself. I keep them for those off days where the weather drops below 70. If you are on the lookout for a great oversized sweater, now is the time to purchase. Many shops are having their end of season sales and I will link some great ones at the end of this post.

I kept todays look simple and sporty with sneakers. I’ve been a big fan of sneakers lately. I think it’s the combination of LA casual and mom life. Who wants to be running after a baby in pumps?!? Any mom that can do that daily I give major props to. I know I can barely keep up in my sneakers. I remember when converse and Adidas originals were the “it” shoes when I was in grade school. I love how the cycle has come full circle and I’m re-living my childhood with both.

Carlota is wearing her…. or shall I say my favorite “Wondersuits”. These zipper onesies come in the cutest patterns and are super handy and easy for multiple diaper changes. I’m slowly learning that the more convenient the better.

To you mama’s reading my blog…what are your favorite baby clothes or items that make life more convenient?

With love,

Andrea

Sweater: & Other Stories (Similar and on sale here, here and here) //

Jeans: J Brand (Also here) //

Sneakers: Stan Smiths (Also available here, here and here) //

On Carlota:

Onesie: Bonds (Similar here)

Hat: Zara (Similar here and here)

Adding some flare

I’ve been living in my skinny jeans for years. Other than my boyfriend jeans, you wouldn’t find me wearing any other style of denim. Recently I’ve jumped on the flare bandwagon when I found this perfect pair. I love the high waist and braided accents. With my short torso, high waisted pants aren’t always flattering on my figure. Maybe the detailed pockets are the magic piece, but as soon as I put these on I felt like they were made for me.

I’m very mindful of dressing for my figure or at least I like to think so!! Not everything that’s on trend will suit every body type. I think it’s important to find those pieces that are stylish and suit you, rather than trying to wear everything that’s trending at the moment.

Carlota is rocking these adorable baby overalls from Old Navy. Finding cute affordable baby clothes is always at the top of my list. I’ve found so many fashionable items for Carlota at Old Navy and haven’t had to break the bank. There is always some sort of sale going on there, on top of the already reasonable prices.

I can’t believe Christmas is just a few days away. Are you ready for the holidays?

7 for all Mankind are currently having their winter sale and these flares are included.

Jeans: 7 for all Mankind on sale (Also available here and here) //

Top: Vince (old) (Similar here and here) //

Hat: Revolve (Similar here and here) //

Boots: Rag & Bone //

On Carlota

Overalls: Old Navy (cute jeans here and here) //

Shoes: Freshly Picked //

Happy Thanksgiving

I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. This is my favorite holiday. I love how it’s all about family, friends and good food. Not to mention it commences the start of the Christmas season. Something about this time of year….full of so much love. This year is even more special since it will be Carlota’s first. As much as she may not remember these moments, I’m keeping them all imprinted in my head and cherishing every second.

Today’s look was from our trip to NYC. We were lucky to have perfect weather. I kept my look simple as usual with all black but added this vest to add texture and color. I love an army green coat or vest. They go with everything and give a perfect pop of color. This vest was a recent purchase from Anthropology so be sure to pop into one of their stores for their Black Friday Sales.

I hope all my American readers are having a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Vest: Anthrhopologie (Similar and on sale here and here) //

Hat: Lack of Colors //

Top: Zara (Currently everything is 30% off) //

Pants: J Brand (On Sale here and here) //

Boots: Chloe (Similar here, here and here) //

A day on the pier!!

I’m looking forward to the days of going on the rollercoaster and sharing an ice cream with my babe. As of now I get to just watch her as she’s taking in all of her surroundings, exploring the world and seeing everything for the first time. Its crazy how alert she has become these past few months. If only I knew what she was thinking. We rarely go to the pier, and when we do, we find mostly tourists and children around there. I do imagine that when Carlota is walking and talking, the ferris wheel and Merry-go-round will be our weekly destinations.

My style is 90% casual and I love adding accessories to make my look pop. With this sweater, the sequin details do the popping for itself. No need to accessorize. These details also make it that perfect piece that can be worn from day to night. I added the jeweled pumps for extra sparkle to compliment the shoulder detail of the sweater.

The rips and light colored denim give this look a daytime casual vibe. Changing for a date night, I would trade the skinny jeans for a midi skirt and tuck it in to accentuate the waist. Date nights with the hubby are scarce these days but lets hope as Carlota gets older we start getting back on that track. For now I’ll stick to rocking sequence during my daily outings.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I’m really looking forward to our first Thanksgiving with Carlota. So much to be thankful for.

Sweater: J Crew on major sale with an extra %30 off with code SHOPNOW //

Jeans: 7 For All Mankind (similar here) //

Heels: Louboutin (Similar here very cool here) //

Clutch: Clare V (Similar less expensive here) //

Our New York Adventures + GIVEAWAY

Fall in the city is my favorite, and it was just as magical as I remembered it. The weather couldn’t have been better and it was perfect for exploring the city with Carlota. My husband and I were nervous about our first flight with her. Would we be that couple with the baby that won’t stop crying?! Not to mention….how many bags would we need to take with us for a 4 day trip? Do we bring our large stroller….get an umbrella stroller….the list went on and on. We knew we needed to pack as light as we could but also be able to walk around the city with everything we needed for Carlota. We packed her diaper bag with only the essentials, brought our Bugaboo stroller and Ergo Carrier, and it was the perfect option for us. Thank goodness she was a perfect angel on the flight. She slept for take off and landing and was happy for most of the trip. She gets a little fussy when we sit down with her for too long so a couple of trips along the isles were the magic touch.

We walked all over Manhattan and even ventured to the underground for her first Subway ride. The New York subway line is not really made for strollers and babies, but we managed. I’d have to say Carlota’s favorite was Central Park. We put her in the leaves for photos and she was having so much fun playing and eating them. I enjoyed exploring and walking around the city with my family.

I loved being able to wear my boots and fall layers without needing to be bundled up. Thankfully we brought the cooler weather back to LA. What are your favorite places to visit in the city?

Jacket: All Saints (Similar here and here) //

Tee: Brandy Melville (Similar here and here) //

Jeans: J Brand //

Boots: Stuart Weitzman (Less expensive here and here) //

Carlota

Vest: Gap on sale //

Shirt: Carters (Similar here) //

Jacket: All Saints (Similar here and here) //

Sweater: J Crew (Similar here and here) //

Shirt: Equipment old (Similar here and here) //

Jeans: 7 for All Mankind //

Boots: Stuart Weitzman (Less expensive here and here) //

The Ultimate Designer Giveaway

A group of bloggers and I have teamed up to bring you a fabulous giveaway you can’t resist! We’re giving one precious follower a gift package consisting of a gold Ipad Mini, authentic Tory Burch tall boots, a luxury Coach handbag and scarf, all valued at approximately $1,815 (before taxes! By following as many bloggers as you want on the Gleam widget below, you will have better chances of winning! There are 129 ways to enter. Good luck lovelies!

The Ultimate Designer Giveaway

A New York Minute

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Tomorrow we are off to New York City!! I love the East Coast in the Fall and NYC is one of my favorite cities to visit. I love walking around all day taking in all the hustle and bustle. This will be our first time flying with Carlota and I’m excited and nervous at the same time. We’ll be traveling to Spain for the holidays so this will be good practice for that lengthy flight. Do any of you mamas have any tips or tricks for traveling with a 7 month old? I’m worried about how many things we will need to pack and travel with. Days of only a carry-on are long gone.

The warmer LA weather called for white jeans and a stripped tank this past weekend. I’m looking forward to sweater and layering weather since it’s been 80 degrees in LA these past few weeks. I’ll finally be able to pull out some of my fall looks.

This New York trip will be very different from my previous visits there, but I’m sure it will be very special. If you have any recommendations please share!!

Tank: LF (Similar here, here and here) //

Jeans: J Brand (Similar here and here) //

Sports Bra: Lululemon (Similar here)//

Sun Glasses: Oliver Peoples //

Espadrilles: Chanel (Similar here, here and here) //

Shop the Mint – Giveaway

While a majority of you may be enjoying the crisp air and the warm charming colors of fall, here in LA we are embracing the beautiful sunshine on the beach. As much as I wish it was a little cooler, I really can’t complain. I love my days spent with the babe. Mondays are Mommy and Carlota time and they are my favorite. We run on our own schedule and always seem to be on the go. I cherish these little moments we have together.

I’m going to take full advantage of matching outfits while I still can. Before you know it, she’ll be dressing herself and matching with her mama will be the last thing she’ll want to do. Today was all about stripes. I love a good stripped tee, and think I own a handful in my closet. Such a perfect layering piece. When I saw this dress at Mint Julep Boutique I knew it would be a perfect staple in my closet. Chic yet simple….my style moto.

I’m excited to have teamed up with The Mint Julep Boutique to give one of my readers a $25 gift card to their store. If you subscribe to their mailing list you get an additional $10 off your purchase. They have really great pieces at reasonable prices. You can get my dress and the others I linked for less than $10 if you win.

On Carlota:

Dress: Batela (Similar here, here, here and here) //

Shoes: Freshly picked (love these) //

Dress: The Mint Julep Boutique (Similar here and here) //

Boots: Stuart Weitzman (Similar and less expensive here, here and here) //

Hat: Lack of Colors (Similar and on sale here) //

Rules to enter the Giveaway:

1) Comment below and let me know what is your favorite closet staple.

2) For an additional entry you can follow my blog by email or on bloglovin etc.. let me know in your comment that you have done that

3) For a 3rd entry follow me @withloveandrea and @shopthemint on Instagram and follow the instructions posted there.

Your chance to enter starts today October 24th and will close Wednesday October 28th at midnight PST.

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE

24 hours are just not enough

I’m starting this blog post on my sofa at 7 am, pumping and getting ready for my workday. It seems this may be the best or only time this week to work on a post. My days are slowly melting into weeks and before I know it, it’s a new month. Evenings of relaxing, watching TV, and catching up on blog posts are a thing of the past. Carlota has started a phase where all she wants is to be in mommy’s arms. Sitting beside me playing is not enough. As much as I long for some more “me time” , I’m going to cherish these precious moments. Before you know it, miss independent will want nothing to do with me and I will reminisce on these days.

This post is all about my favorite neutrals white and pink. I can’t get enough. With October being Breast Cancer awareness month, I can’t think of a more appropriate color. I have an obsession with white jeans lately and these J brands are my favorite. They are stretchy and soft and fit in all the right places. I love the knee rips and ankle cut off. Showing a little ankle can help add a little length to your legs. Just add a pair of rocking heels and you are set.

These rockstuds have been all the rage on Instagram the past couple of years and don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. With their gunmetal pyramid stud detailing they make a statement with any simple look. For 4 1/4 inch heels, they are surprisingly comfortable. They have quickly become my favorite heel.

Two pumping sessions later, I think I have finally finished my first blog post in October. When did 24 hours a day become not enough?

Jeans: J Brand (Also here, in pink here) //

Shirt: Gap (On Sale here, here) //

Jacket: BB Dakota (Similar here and here) //

Heels: Valentino (More affordable option here)

Boho chic

California is all about that Boho vibe. The weather, the palm trees, the surfers and their laid back attitude. Then there’s Coachella. That time of year in Indio, California where the epitome of California fashion has its own catwalk on the polo fields. The festival is equal parts music and fashion. Most likely the inspiration for this style is a combination of all of the above.

Even the queen of blogging herself, Italian beauty Chiara Ferragni has adopted this style since moving to LA. The Italian fashion blogger from The Blonde Salad has changed her high fashion ways for crop tops and vintage high-waisted denim shorts. Of course when she attends Paris and Milan fashion weeks she is all decked out in European high fashion but her everyday style is definitely that 70’s California vibe.

Moving to LA from the East Coast I had a lot to learn. My style is definitely not bohemian but I am starting to embrace the California way. This dress was a perfect mix for me. Being a new mom crop tops, short shorts, and fringe skirts just don’t seem as appropriate for me these days. Rather than being discouraged, I look for items that incorporate the trends but suit my personal style as well.

Time to enjoy that beautiful California sunshine!! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!