August 26, 2016

A Mad Hatter and a Rolls Royce.

August 26, 2016/ Kristen Hale

Outfit Details:
ASOS Floral Bardot Maternity Dress, Pink Hat (borrowed from my Mom's hope chest, similar here and here), Charming Charlie Clutch (old, similar here and here), Banana Republic Wedges (sold out, similar here), Anthropologie Stud Earrings

It was all just so British.

The cobblestone streets, the rare London sunshine and the hat atop my head. Coming out of the whitewashed hotel we stumbled upon these flowers that freakishly matched my dress and then a Rolls Royce just appeared out of nowhere. Beckoning me to it, really. Not only is this is the stuff dream blog posts are made of, this is the stuff that dreams are made of! I can't say enough gushing things about this particular experience, because Stevie and I were literally so giddy, relishing the most British experience of our lives (except for maybe the time we did high tea at Fortnum & Mason). We even rode on that red bus you see in the background (up top!), across town to the loveliest of weddings. It was an experience friends, one that I will never ever forget.

I was a little bit wardrobe challenged when I received the invitation to the suite of celebratory events for this wedding. How in the world does one plan for so many maternity outfits? Well, ASOS Maternity ended up being a lifesaver, because the prices are so reasonable and the options are so stylish and sassy. The problem I've found with most maternity sites is that all the dresses look very classic and alike (and let's be honest - bland), which is sort of understandable, since women want to be able to wear their maternity clothing throughout several pregnancies. But that makes it really hard to find trendier, or even colorful options, especially when it comes to occasion-wear. That's what really sets ASOS Maternity apart - I found so many options that I loved, and actually ended up ordering about ten dresses, trying them on at home, and choosing between them. Obviously ASOS is known for it's non-maternity clothing, but if you're a pregnant lady in need of a nice dress, their maternity line is the go-to. And as for that hat, well, what can I say. My mom is my style icon, the original fashionista in my book. This thing was just laying around in her closet.

And there's my date. Oh, and there's Stevie, too. JUST KIDDING! As much as I loved that bus ride, I loved experiencing it with him even more. It was sightseeing and transporting and Kate Middleton stalking all at once. :)

P.S. - More from our London trip here - inhaling rose lattes around Notting Hill and wearing a sari on Queen's Gate Road.

ASOS Floral Bardot Pencil Dress

Jessica Simpson Wedge Pump

Anthropologie Aludra Post Earrings

Goldie Chain Strap Clutch

August 19, 2016

A Sari on Queen's Gate Road.

August 19, 2016/ Kristen Hale

I can't believe it was only 10 days ago that we were in London, celebrating at our friend's lovely wedding. One of the events was the traditional Indian Mendhi & Pithi, where the bride's family welcomes the groom's family into their home. We were shuttled as a group out to the bride's family home in picturesque Surrey where we danced, ate and drank the night away. The mocktails were flowing my friends. It was my kind of party :)

Sometimes I feel so sheltered by not knowing enough about other cultures and religions. This was the most enriching experience, seeing the gorgeous Indian culture up close, in all its vibrancy and spice and tradition. The bride and groom were so elegant, draped in their crystal and white outfits and performing the traditions of this ceremony. It was amazing to watch. My dear friend Nabihah arranged a sari for me to wear (in the most stunning shade of fuchsia!), and made sure that I had help getting assembled and dressed by her husband's sweet aunt Laila. I would have been lost in the folds of this sari - I had no idea that it's just one continuous piece of fabric that has to be draped, looped and wrapped a zillion times.

If you look closely enough, you will see that the material is sheer. My pregnant belly was more exposed than I thought it would be! I was slightly self-conscious about this, but at the same time, I just wanted to immerse myself and embrace the experience. Pregnant sari and all :) Besides, most Indian saris show some belly and back, so I guess I was fitting in?

We took these photos in about 30 seconds (we were rushed, didn't want to be late to the first event!), but I wanted to share them with you because it's not everyday that an American girl gets to attend an Indian wedding in London. Documentation had to be made.

Outfit Details:
Fuchia Sari (gifted, I've linked a few similar styles below), Stella & Dot Alila Lace Chandeliers, Stella & Dot Alila Cuff, Steve Madden Heels, Sephora Lip Stain in Mulberry, Banana Republic Clutch (gifted, I've linked a a few similar styles below)

Stella & Dot Alila Lace Chandeliers

Embroidered Saree in Fuchia

Stella & Dot Alila Gold Lace Cuff

Sephora Luster Lip Stain in Mulberry

Dark Fuchia Saree

Kate Spade Wristlet

Banana Republic Zip Pouch

Steve Madden Stecy Sandal

I'm so grateful that Stevie and I got to have this experience together. It was like going on a surprise date, where neither of us quite knew what was going to happen next, but what happened next was always fun and wonderful. We feasted on the most delicious of Indian foods (I'm addicted to naan now), learned to dance with dandiyas (well, sort of, Stevie broke his pair), savored the coconut ice cream and wandered through the family's rose garden after dark. If it sounds magical to you, then you're getting my drift, because it pretty much was.

And this was only the beginning of our trip!

Have you ever been to an Indian wedding? What was your favorite part? After this experience, I would love to hear about yours!

August 15, 2016

Wandering through Kensington Garden & Notting Hill.

August 15, 2016/ Kristen Hale

London, I love you.

This is the loveliest of towns. Stevie and I spent last week in this polite, prestigious hamlet for a good friends' wedding and it was nothing short of exciting, invigorating and so, so inspiring. It's just the most attractive city - so clean and historic and well-maintained. There were enormous planters of cascading flowers everywhere - hanging from lanterns, peeking out from enclosed gardens, and pristinely lining the sidewalks in the most polite fashion. I've never seen such gorgeous maintenance, city-wide. The British really care about orderly fashion, and I kind of love it. Of course, I don't know any American girls who aren't fascinated with British culture, those Disney movies really did us in.

Though we were busy for most of this trip, celebrating the 3-day wedding, we managed to do a bit of exploring in between events. One of my favorite parts of the city is Notting Hill, and the last time we were there it was a bit rushed, so this time we wanted to take our time and enjoy the colorful homes (and vibrant doors!) that line these quaint streets. We took the long walk from our hotel in Chelsea, The Doubletree Kensington, through Kensington Garden, past the Kensington Palace (where I'm certain I lost my phone, RIP) up into Notting Hill.

Side note - these maternity overalls are going to be on constant rotation these next few months. They are so comfortable and actually fit incredibly well. Have I mentioned how much I love ASOS maternity? More on that later.

Kensington Palace! Where Diana lived and where Prince William and Princess Kate reside where they're in London.

I have no reason to believe that London is a soggy, cloudy town because it was like 70 degrees and sunny the entire time we were there. Also, he's cute.

A botonist's dream.

I read about Farm Girl Cafe on Portobello Road here and wanted so badly to try the famed rose latte. When we arrived, the little place was packed and the waiter warned us that the drink of our choice was "a little girly" - so of course Stevie chose something else. MISTAKE. My rose latte tasted like a floral coffee wondertreat with crispy bits of rose to munch on (the tastiest of surprises, I assure you) and Stevie kept asking for sips. I was a bit stingy though.

The beauty of this area of London is found in the wandering, and perhaps getting a bit lost along the cobbled side streets. Peeking through the wrought-iron gates into the private gardens and imagining what it would be like to have afternoon tea on the terrace and pulling open the brightly-colored front doors - the dreaming is all part of the fun. We spent the morning talking about which house would be ours (I kept changing my mind, because they're all just too pretty to choose), and what life would really be like, living in London. Does anyone else do this when they travel? We do this everywhere we go, whether it's on a road trip to the beach or a quick trip to London. We like to imagine our life and our family living in different places, just for the fun of it. I guess you could call that grown-up make believe. This fun was only the beginning, I'm excited to share more about this trip in the coming weeks!

Denim Dungarees

Side-Ruched Maternity Tee

Michael Kors Jaryn Rose Gold Watch

Ray-Ban Original Wayfarer

Outfit Details:
ASOS Denim Dungarees, Motherhood Maternity Top, Boots (similar here and here), Michael Kors Jaryn Rose Gold Watch, Ray Ban Sunglasses

July 08, 2016

Spontaneous 2 Days in NYC!

July 08, 2016/ Kristen Hale

Two weeks ago, I said to Stevie, "Hey, I made a dinner reservation for our anniversary. I know we haven't talked about it, but I went ahead and just picked a spot and a time."

His response was annoying. He was like, "Well, I made a reservation, too. Can you cancel yours?"

Um, no. I'm certain I picked a better restaurant than whatever Ted's Montana Grill location he chose.

He continued, "I made a reservation at Fig & Olive." And then he just smiled sweetly. Because Fig & Olive is my all-time favorite restaurant in NYC.

So of course I freaked and jumped around, especially as he explained that he had a few work things to do in the city, but my mom was going to watch Everett for the quick 2-day trip, so I could just enjoy my days there and see friends, and of course, EAT.

And that is exactly what I did.

This trip was the BEST.

Being kid-free was so liberating. I could shelf all my mom duties for a few days and just do what I wanted - I rode the subway to some of my favorite spots, met friends all over town for lunches and dinners, and even shopped a little. And doing all of this alone was so therapeutic - I'm not alone too much in my life, and I actually really need that kind of time to recharge. I spent a lot of time wandering and thinking. About my family. About my dreams. About this blog. Lots of thinking. And coffee drinking :)

I've been so excited to visit this new landmark, which feels like it was erected just to beckon me back to town. Located in Brooklyn Bridge Park, this Oy/Yo sculpture was constructed after we moved away. My sweet friend Crystal met me at the park and payed homage (and took this silly photo) with me. It rained on us a little bit and cooled off all the steaminess and it was just wonderful wonderful.

From the Manhattan side of the bridge, it reads YO. I love that.

I'm pretty sure this guy was delivering a bunch of Amazon Now packages. How cool, huh?

One thing I wished I had gotten a picture of is something else I saw on the street with zillions of people walking. I saw a mom rollerblading with her baby in a stroller. Yes, rollerblading. And while she was blading, she was leaning over and feeding her baby kale chips. Only in New York, guys.

Okay, so let me just give a little recap on meeting my girl Amber Fillerup of Barefoot Blonde. (I like talking as if we are actual friends, because, well, I am a geek and its my blog and I can.) For those of you who don't know her, she's a mega huge blogger who shares fashion, beauty and family travels on her enormously famous blog. #goals

One of the days we were in the city, she posted something on Instagram about having a little meetup down in Soho, so I asked Stevie if he wouldn't mind joining me to try to meet her before our anniversary dinner. He was soooooo cool about it and joined, even though he was one of like, 3 guys at the entire event. We waited in line for a bit, but there were good appetizers and drinks, so at least he got to snack before our dinner. But what was really cool is that I actually got to meet with her and talk with her and her husband (who takes all her photos and videos.) I told her I was a blogger in Atlanta (shameless, I know), and she shared some blogging insights and advice with me (some of which included Stevie quitting his job to help me full-time! bahahaha) and we talked about our kids being the same ages and then we took some selfies together. AND I gave her my card. I know you guys, I am kind of the worst. But I was also on cloud 9 and thennnn while we were talking, Glamour Magazine came up and took our photo together and posted it on their Instagram! I thought they might have been doing that with everyone, but nope, it was just me and Amber. I died a little bit. When I finally got in the cab to go to dinner, my Instagram was blowing up and I was having a moment like, what just happened??? Meeting her was so so cool. And you guys, she was seriously the kindest.

I got to see what the big times looked like. It didn't look bad.

So then we went to dinner. I shared more of these outfit details here.

9 years of marriage with this love! I can't even believe it. After the craziness of that blogger event, we settled into the nicest table in the house at Fig & Olive (per Stevie's request), and before we even got a chance to order they were greeting us by name and bringing me a mocktail. Because they knew I was bumpin'. This place is ridiculously classy.

Stevie and I spent the meal recapping our favorite moments and challenges of the past nine years together. We have done so much growing up over the past nine years, and I am so grateful that he has given me the space to continue becoming who I am. We have both pursued so many dreams over these years together and we've experienced the rise and fall of some of those dreams. Some dreams we are in the middle of, like raising a family and building careers and throwing all our extra energy (ha) into developing our skills and gifts. And some are still looming far ahead. But they are out there, waiting for us to pull them close and bring them into fruition.

I love this man more than ever.

Haha this post is long, wordy, and mushy. Is anyone even still reading?? Sorry guys, but not that sorry.

Oh, and then there are these angelic humans. Meet our BFFS in NYC, Anthony and Jess. They are the kindest, most generous and obviously GORGEOUS people. A few years ago we all lived on the same block on the Upper West Side, and we started attending their Hillsong small group when we discovered that we would most definitely be life-long friends. On this particular trip, they wanted to celebrate our anniversary with us, and treated us to the fanciest dessert and drinks I've ever had, at the Michelin-star Gabriel Kreuther on Bryant Park. Anthony even arranged a kitchen tour, and I got to gawk at all the gorgeous French cookware. This experience was a big surprise and we were sorely under-dressed, but somehow the ritzy hostess let us in anyhow. Anthony and Jess are two people who are really going for their dreams, and they continue to inspire me and Stevie in our faith and our our pursuits. And they are just a ton of fun. It really hurts saying goodbye to them every time.

There are so many other stories I could share from this amazing trip, but I'll spare getting overly wordy here. I came away from the city feeling inspired, loaded down with new ideas for this blog and with a fresh perspective on my life. I am so thankful that I had the chance to get away and celebrate with my love and be alone and see friends and eat so well. Especially after the past three months of staying in bed and trudging through the first trimester of this pregnancy :)

If you're heading to NYC soon, check out my NYC page or search "New York City adventures" in the search bar over on the right.

June 28, 2016

Family Beach Trip!

June 28, 2016/ Kristen Hale

It's just always felt like home, here on this beach.

Probably because it is home, in a way. I've been coming to this stretch of coast on the Florida gulf every summer since I was about 7 years old. I might have been 8. I'm not really certain. But every summer, without fail, my feet have hit these sands and my heart has spilled over with relief and gratitude into the bubbling foamy sea. This horizon has absorbed a lot of my heart cries over the years - sadness over break ups, joy over making the squad, relief from finals, anticipation for my wedding, anticipation for moving to Boston, anticipation for moving to New York, anticipation for having a baby... the list goes on and on. This has been the place where I've "worked out” a lot my life challenges, had my conversations with God, while staring into this azure sea.

This is the kind of place that I have grown to need. To love and to cherish. We all have a place like this, right?

This time around, I got to watch my husband teach my little son how to play frisbee. I smile because this is the same beach where I learned to throw a frisbee so many years ago, when Stevie and I were dating and he couldn’t just sit still and read books with me for 7 days in a row. This is where I learned to love the feeling of the sea spray on my face while I angled the disc just so and sent it soaring across the shoreline to my partner in crime. And now, watching my not even two-year-old son experience the same bewildering joy - well, that’s what I think they call nostalgia. And aging. And really, really wonderful.

I did a rascal job of actually capturing a lot of moments through the lens during this beach week, and that was actually on purpose. This is the kind of week where I put away my phone, neglect all beauty products, and wear little more than bathing suits and pajamas. I shut off from the outside world, partly because the Internet connection is so poor anyway, and just eat ice cream and have conversations with family and stare at the ocean. So these are the few rare shots I took when I actually remembered to pull my camera out and capture the moment.

I hope you get the opportunity to retreat somewhere this summer. Everyone deserves a reprieve from from the hovering chaos of calendaring and task lists.