Friday Favorites – June 7th, 2019

Brooklyn Running Picture

Happy Friday! Since I was exhausted from the work week, I decided to blog during last night’s late flight back to New York. It’s been a while since I’ve had the opportunity to share with you all my favorite things so, since this type of post is popular, I figured I’d share a few things I’ve been loving recently. In addition, if you’re a parent or preparing for maternity leave I highly recommend clicking to the post I shared earlier this week with tips for returning to work after maternity leave. I really enjoyed writing the post as it forced me to reflect on how much things have changed in the past 18 months.

This weekend I’m happy to be staying local and catching up on cuddles and relaxing. I’ve traveled 10 of the past 30 days for work which is far more than normal and more than I prefer to be away. Luckily I don’t travel for the next two weeks and look forward to spending extra time with Katie. In fact, I was supposed to run the NYRR Mini 10k in Central Park tomorrow but since I’ve been traveling I’m choosing to think of my registration as a donation and, instead, we are heading to the beach bright and early tomorrow morning for some sand and wave fun before Katie’s nap.

Now, let’s dive into this week’s edition of Friday Favorites. Also, if you want to learn more about my favorite things on a regular basis, follow me on Instagram and check out the Favorite Things and Beauty Favorites section on my Instagram highlights.

  • After reading a few heavier books such as Educated, Hillbilly Elegy, Bad Blood and Where the Crawdads Sing I have been enjoying a few lighter books recently. It’s fun to quickly read these Summer beach reads in the evening and work my way through multiple different books in just a week. Over the past few weeks I’ve read Normal People (3 stars), Daisy Jones & The Six (4 stars), The Unhoneymooners (4 stars) and All We Ever Wanted (4 stars).  After a few light reads, I’m starting We Were The Lucky Ones which is a highly recommended World War II book.
  • Recently my face has had some unruly breakouts along my chin due in part to stress and travel. During my facial last week, it was recommended that I start using a toner in that area as well as ensuring that I remove all my makeup each night before bed. But, the exciting part of my facial was that outside of that trouble zone, my fine lines and discoloration has improved greatly over the past few months.  The biggest change I’ve made is the use of Beautycounter’s Overnight Resurfacing peel. I use it every other night and love the glow that I see the next morning. After washing my face in the evening I apply it under my moisturizer and eye cream. Make sure to apply it to a dry face and let it absorb fully before applying any moisturizer or facial oils. I know the name is confusing but this is not a mask or peel that is rinsed off or peeled off after applying. Just go to bed and let the formula work magic.
  • I finally ordered a pair of Rothy’s after having multiple co-workers and friends rave about them. While I still love my M.Gemi and JCrew flats for work, my Rothy sneakers are an evening playground and weekend favorite. The white color can easily be bleached or washed and the insoles and support make the shoes comfortable enough for long walks or park adventures. I ordered my true size for this style and then in the pointed style, which I just ordered, I went up a 1/2 size based on reviews.
  • I love wearing Birkenstocks all Summer as they provide support when I’m walking through Brooklyn or playing with Katie. However now that Katie is obsessed with playing outside and splashing in the water I quickly realized I needed something that could survive mud and water. Luckily Birkenstock’s new Arizona EVA Essentials sandals are the perfect option. They have the same, great support that my rose gold Arizona style has but now is a water-friendly EVA material and only $39.95! I bought the white color as I knew I could wear it with anything AND use a Mr Clean eraser to spot clean.  I wore them this morning to walk Katie to nanny share and was amazed how comfortable they were and that they didn’t need to be broken in at all!
  • Summer running has arrived and that means that I’m running in shorts and tanks 99% of the time. Once again, this summer my favorite running tank is the Brooks Hot Shot Tank which is lightweight and quick-drying which makes it a perfect fit for my sweaty nature. I wore the blue one this morning and received compliments from four different people including the guy who prepared my bagel sandwich!
  • Driving in Arkansas this week, I was able to listen to a podcast during my commute each day which was a fun treat. Right now, I am primarily listening to NEWS or PARENTING podcasts. My favorite parenting podcasts are UNRUFFLED and LIFE KIT. My favorite news podcasts that Bo and I both listen to daily are NPR News Now, Up First, and The Daily.

Have a great Friday!

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes lots of beauty and fashion items which means there are a few affiliate links via ShopStyle. It takes time and money to maintain a blog so I thank you for the support and few cents that come from clicking through the links!

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February Favorites

It’s the second day of March and the view outside my window is a snowy, winter wonderland. Even though we only received 3-4 inches during the night, that is the most snow we’ve had since our early season snow in November.  Our Saturday routine is changing a bit now that Bo and Katie are enjoying father daughter swim lessons from 9:30-10 AM every Saturday for the next eight weeks. Since I found myself in a clean, quiet house with no errands on my list, I’m taking advantage of the few moments of quiet to check in with you all and share my February favorites. Brooklyn snow

If you want to learn more about my favorite things on a regular basis, follow me on Instagram and check out the Favorite Things and Beauty Favorites section on my Instagram highlights.

Becoming – Even though it took me almost the entire month to read this book, I really enjoyed it. I started reading it not knowing much about Michelle Obama and finished feeling like I’d just finished catching up with a good friend. I loved the insights to her emotions during the campaigns and then her perspective of the time in the White House. But, the part of the book that I appreciated most was the first half, which focused on her childhood and early adult life before she became the first lady. Regardless of your political affiliation or believes, I think this memoir is wonderful for everyone.

Paige Transcend Hoxton Skinny Jeans  – Since losing the remainder of my baby weight, I found that my favorite Jcrew jeans were now far too loose. While it’s a good problem to have, I quickly found that these jeans were no longer available in my size and therefore I felt like I had to start from scratch. The last thing I want to do with my spare time is go jean shopping, so instead I asked my followers and friends on Instagram to recommend their favorite jeans for tall ladies. The unanimous favorite was Paige brand and the most recommended style was the Hoxton High Waist in Moana wash. These jeans are the perfect dark wash for business casual or weekends. I can dress them up with heels and a blazer for date night or wear them with a sweater on the weekends. I’ve had them for three weeks and am so obsessed with the flattering fit and material that I just ordered a second pair in a lighter wash.

Dudley Stephens Cobble Hill Turtleneck in Terry Fleece – When the team at Dudley Stephens announced that they were restocking their favorite items and releasing a few new styles, I knew exactly what I wanted – a bright, vibrant top for spring. I actually regret ordering the Park Slope turtleneck in red as I rarely wear that color.  I tend to avoid  wearing primary colors and instead more frequently wear pops of bright color when I’m not wearing white, black or gray. As soon as I saw their new terry fleece style in the bright island coral, I knew it would quickly become my new favorite top. The top looks and feels like a chic sweatshirt. I wore it with makeup, fun earrings and makeup for a work conference call and had not one but two people ask me about the top. The lighter, terry fleece material means I can wear it throughout the year, on cool nights up in Vermont during the summer or out and about during the spring and early summer months. The fit is true to size, so I am wearing a large to accommodate my broad shoulders and longer arms. If I wanted something super fitted I could most likely fit in a medium but that isn’t the style that I want in this top. Yes, the top is worth the price tag as the quality is amazing and it will quickly become your favorite top in your closet – promise. If you’re new to Dudley Stephens, my favorite styles are the Cobble Hill turtleneck and the Park Slope if you want a bit more coverage. I have the park slope in red and gray and the cobble hill in white and pink.

Beautycounter Sheer Lipstick in Lily – This wearable pink shade of hydrating lipstick has been my favorite color for the past few months. It goes on easily and lasts all day. Even though I have three other lipstick colors in my makeup bag, I find myself grabbing for this one multiple times during the day.

Brooks Levitate 2My hot pink pair of Brooks Levitate 2 have quickly become my favorite running shoes. The flexible, mesh upper allows me to tighten them while the broad toe box gives my toes room to breathe during runs. The bright, fun colors make me smile while I’m running without compromising on support. The midsole is also extremely responsive, making me feel like I can spring through each step during both a short speed workout and a longer run.

Brooks Dash HoodieThis lightweight, cozy hoodie has been a perfect layer during my outdoor runs. The material is buttery soft yet still wicks away the sweat. During the cooler weather, I’ve been wearing this over a sports bra as the second layer before putting my heavy running jacket over it and gloves. The pocket at the wrist is perfect for a key and credit card while the hood was a nice option to pull on the other day when it started sleeting towards the end of my run. I’ve had the black version for over a year but recently the Brooks team sent me the bright purple as a fun new color to wear through the winter and spring.

What are you loving these days? 

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Friday Favorites – November 2nd, 2018

Happy Friday! It was a fun, festivity filled week due to Halloween. This weekend isn’t going to be as relaxing as most but for good reason – it’s the NYC Marathon weekend! Each day this weekend I have at least one marathon related event. On Saturday I get to catch up with Charlie and Zoe while we attend the Lindsey Hein and Paula Radcliffe podcast recording together and then on Sunday I’ll be cheering at mile 7.  But, before the NYC Marathon events, Bo and I are enjoying another date night together. This time we’re going to dinner in Manhattan before seeing the new Broadway play, To Kill A Mockingbird. It’s the first time it’s been produced for Broadway and the play was adaptation was written by Aaron Sorkin and the star is Jeff Daniels!  We’ve been waiting to see this for a few months as the tickets were Bo’s birthday gift this year.

Now, let’s dive into this week’s edition of Friday Favorites,. This week’s Friday Favorites is different than most as I’m dedicating this one to the J.Crew 40% off sale. When I asked you guys on Instagram if you wanted a round-up, a resounding 93% of you said YES!

Favorite jeans & pants

  • Classic Wash High Rise Jeans and True Black High Rise Jeans –  These fit me better than any other jean I’ve found and they tend to be half the price of the designer brands carried in most department stores.  After loving my classic, dark pair I just bought a pair of jet black jeans in the same high-rise style,
  • Martie Slim Crop –  This is my new favorite work pant. In fact, I loved my black pair so much that I ordered another pair in navy just a few weeks later. High-waist, slim fit and machine wash make these pants a no-brainer in my book!
  • Edie Full Length Trouser – When I want to wear a more classic, full length pant for work, this is my choice. The cut is very flattering, the material is forgiving and they travel well since they don’t seem to wrinkle easily. When I wore my black pair in Cincinnati last week for meetings, three different people asked me for details!

Dresses/Others

  • Jumpsuit – I wore this non-stop this summer and, rumor has it, if I put a turtleneck or blouse under it, I can easily wear it year-round. While I admittedly haven’t tried this look yet, I’ve seen numerous people wearing jumpsuits this fall!

Favorite Outerwear

  • Cocoon Jacket – Since buying this three years ago, it’s been one of my favorite items. I have a navy and white boucle style, that makes it a bit unique, but the coat is the same cozy, over-sized, warm version available again this year. The pockets are larger than normal, pefect for holding winter gloves or a scarf, and the oversized fit allows it to easily be worn over sweaters and winter layers. I wear a size 6, which is smaller than my normal J.Crew size so I definitely recommend sizing down.
  • Puffed Vest – This is a perfect transitional item this time of year and I wore my off white one yesterday over a cotton turtleneck. Many of my friends have these vests in different colors as they can be worn all winter long in the south and up here they are perfect for fall and spring.
  • Ribbed Beanie with Faux Fur Pom-Pom – I wore this hat non-stop last winter! The poof makes it extra fun and the longer length allows me to cover my ears. Last year this sold out quickly so if you’re thinking about it or want to give it as a gift this holiday season, buy it now!

Favorite Shirts

  • Everyday Chambray shirt – I love wearing this shirt with my leopard skirt or black dress pants for a fun weekday outfit.
  • Drapey Faux-Wrap Top – This top is a perfect day to night piece that I’ve worn both for date nights and meetings alike. I have it in navy but love the deep burgundy and black as well.
  • Slim Fit Perfect Shirt – I have this blouse in two different colors – the essential white and blue and white stripe. According to the label, I’ve had the white one for four years and the blue and white stripe for three years. Each sas It’s been a closet staple since I bought the white one back in 2012, according to th

Sweaters

  • Tippi Sweater – I’ve been adding a new color of this sweater to my closet each year since 2010 as it’s a classic, flattering sweater that comes in new colors every season. This year I added emerald green and burgundy to my wardrobe.
  • Sophie Open Front Sweater Blazer – This relaxed blazer can be worn for work and weekend alike, but my favorite aspect is that it’s long enough to wear with leggings! In fact, I threw it on over a turtleneck earlier this week for a video conference call with the customer.
  • Textured Long Cardigan – As soon as I saw this online I ordered it. The texture and colors make it a bit different than anything I own and I know I’ll wear it throughout the year. I’ll most likely pair it first with a black tissue turtleneck since this will make a perfect professional work-from-home look that is comfortable and chic!

Accessories

  • Layered Pearls – I bought these nine years ago to wear with my rehearsal dinner dress.  When I worked in an office, I wore this an average of once a week but these days I only wear it once a month or so. Regardless, it’s a classic piece of jewelry that has held up well and paid out years ago!

Have a great Friday!

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes lots of beauty and fashion items which means there are a few affiliate links via ShopStyle. It takes time and money to maintain a blog so I thank you for the support and few cents that come from clicking through the links!

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