Perhaps because of my recent trip to Vegas, I’m swooning over this stunning swimwear shoot for Morena Rosa starring Brazilian bombshell Isabeli Fontana. I’m a Hawaii girl, so glamming up a bikini with earrings and heels is still a foreign concept to me. But who would have thought that matching swimwear and footwear with gold galore could look so good…agreed?

I have to admit, once you try the bikini with higher shoes and earrings, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been doing it all along! (I’m just as shocked as you are, believe me.)

What about you, do you ever glam up your swimwear?

Isabeli Fontana for Morena Rosa

The post SUMMER GLAM
Beachside/Poolside Inspiration appeared first on small shop by Erika Brechtel.

Whenever I get the chance to travel, I also get to catch up on my favorite mags. My mini-break to Vegas this weekend was no exception as I indulged in the latest Vogue poolside. Much to my travel-bugging delight, I came across Bruno Frisoni of Roger Vivier’s marbled Moroccan home. It definitely had me dreaming of faraway destinations beyond the deserts of Nevada! You don’t want to miss any tucked-away corner of this little treasure trove…

I think I left my heart back on that pooldeck when I saw this view!

Speaking of…I have to apologize for the epic fail in my overzealous attempt to post my Vegas outfits on Instagram! You know how these trips go: it’s a whirlwind from the moment you land to the moment you depart…as if you stepped into some kind of mirage for a split second, and then it’s gone, just like that! Where did that weekend go, I’m already asking myself?!

Photography by François Halard via Vogue

The post MOROCCAN ECLECTIC
A Midsummer’s Dream appeared first on small shop by Erika Brechtel.

Like most of us these days, I’ve been working my butt off lately — I’m definitely ready for some relaxation and revelry! Just in time, I get to be a fill-in for a friend’s husband on a quick 2-day jaunt to Vegas, where we’ll be poolside by day, and on the dancefloor/at a concert by night (7th row!!). For my packing list, I’m betting on corals, oranges, black and gold, with fringe, sequins, a little skin, and a whole lotta shine…

sunglasses / “Virgo” necklace / bikini top / bikini bottom / crossbody clutch / gold fringe cuff / coverup / open-back dress / black & gold halter blouse / black studded shorts / espadrilles / gold snakeskin sandals

Follow me on Instagram, and I’ll be sure to get my friend to take a few pics of my real-life outfits, with similar essentials to the above checked off that list (and an Alice + Olivia number in orange I haven’t worn since the last time I was in Vegas a year ago! Excited it gets to make another appearance.).

What a great reward, right? But ironically, this is my “Mother’s Day gift” which happens to fall on Father’s Day weekend…oops! So I’ll be hightailing it back Sunday morning to fulfill my wifely duties! What are your plans this weekend?

The post VIVA LAS VEGAS!
Sin City Essentials appeared first on small shop by Erika Brechtel.

5 REASONS WHY IT’S TOTALLY WORTH IT

In my last “MomME Files” post I mentioned I was going to kick off my summer with a 3-day juice cleanse from Ritual Wellness. I just completed it and have to say, it was easier than I thought! Granted, I don’t eat a lot of junk as it is, and when I do, I do it right (gourmet burgers and microbrews for me!). But even still, here are my five reasons why doing a juice cleanse was definitely worth my while…

1. I kicked my morning coffee and afternoon sugar cravings.
You are allowed on the cleanse to have organic green tea. By mid-morning the caffeine headache definitely set in on Day 1 and Day 2, so I did have half a cup. But by Day 3, it went away on its own. The day after the cleanse, I didn’t even want coffee — a very good thing for my anemia, since caffeine actually extracts iron from your blood! Additionally, I didn’t really have any sugar and carb cravings throughout the day by the end of the cleanse (although Day 2 was dicey!).

2. I’m thinking more clearly by day, and sleeping more soundly at night.
Probably partially due to the above (and due to all the nutrients I packed in), my brain seems to be functioning more fully and equally throughout the day without the ups and downs — to the point that I’m wiped out at night and sleep soundly through the night. That hasn’t happened for many years because of my daughter’s frequent 4am wake-ups. (Moms, you know: good ol’ sleep training leaves mom with the sleep issues!)

3. I’m now a cheap date. (woot!)
My stomach definitely shrunk! I’m just not as hungry to begin with, and I fill up fast. I’m sure that will change over time, but for now, I like that it keeps me from getting that “overfull” feeling. And bonus: I’m a lightweight! (That will definitely change over time…umm like this weekend.)

4. I slimmed down. (double woot!)
I don’t have a scale so I can’t report how many lbs. exactly, but a very noticeable difference after only three days? I’ll take it!

5. I got a fresh & healthy lunch salad recipe out of it!
If you really need food, you are allowed to have organic romaine, avocado, celery and cucumber with lemon juice. On the night of Day 1, I was out to dinner with a group, and so as to not make everyone else uncomfortable, I had a “Caesar Salad…hold the Caesar” (thankfully the restaurant was very accommodating and didn’t think much of it…ahh, the O.C.). But surprisingly, I didn’t want much of it. Day 2 evening I did feel pretty tired, so I made this little salad at home, and it was so delicious I had it the day after the cleanse too! It is now officially added into my lunch salad rotation:

Overall, I was really impressed with the whole package from Ritual Wellness, from the ease of ordering and pick up, to the nifty cooler bag, to the detailed and well-designed instructions, and of course, the juices themselves. Each juice was quite flavorful and unique — you could really taste each ingredient.

Verdict: I’d definitely do it again!

Have I convinced you to try it too? Why not, I say!

*This is not a sponsored post and the opinions expressed here are my own.

The post I SURVIVED
My First Juice Cleanse
(and You Can Too!) appeared first on small shop by Erika Brechtel.

THANK YOU Lee Kleinhelter for fulfilling my black and white dreams! The Pieces vintage furnishings store owner does it again in the latest issue of Lonny. I was ecstatic flipping through each image of the Atlanta high-rise model condo she recently redecorated (remember her previous, equally delicious version?). Because you know me, any time you soften glossy black, white, gold and Lucite with textural fur, hides, wood AND rattan (with a touch of Hermès cashmere thrown in!), I’m gonna be ALL over that…yum-my…

Such a simple solution, yet done so well.

Photography by Sarah Dorio; see the full spread at Lonny.com

The post BLACK & WHITE
Naturalized appeared first on small shop by Erika Brechtel.

Miami swimwear line Luli Fama is kinda my dirty little secret…I’m addicted! I wouldn’t have believed it if I didn’t see it for myself: a bikini line that makes your bottom actually look kinda cute! Something about the wavy edging and the center ruching up the backside just totally work. And because I can’t contain myself any longer, I’m spilling with my fave picks for a sizzlin’ summer (myself, I couldn’t decide so I got two!)…

“Delicia”
crochet triangle top / full wavy tie-side tassel bottom

/

“Cosita Buena”
bombshell red fringe top (also in black, gold) / full wavy hipster bottom
(*FYI the coloring on EverythingButWater.com is incorrect; I tried this one on and it’s more like I have here!) 

/

“Pura Fiesta”
triangle ring top / full wavy tie-side bottom 

/

“Cosita Buena”
gold wavy triangle top / full wavy hipster bottom

/

“Super Sexy 60′s”
crystallized triangle top / full wavy tie-side bottom 

/

“Cosita Buena”
aqua wavy triangle top / full wavy hipster bottom

/

“Sweet Seduction”
black lace ballet halter top / full wavey hipster bottom (also in ivory)

/

“Back in Time”
ballet halter top / full wavy tie-side bottom

/

Cute coverups too!

“Sweet Seduction”
black lace tunic (also in ivory)

/ 

“Sweet Seduction”
ivory lace romper (also in black)

/

Check out lulifama.com for the full extent of their collection, but I WARN YOU: from a design perspective, the site is extremely difficult to navigate, and let me just say…if I first saw the photos they have on their website, well, I would never have tried these on. (I’m tempted to reach out to them and offer up my services for a rebrand!)

They have many many other styles and cuts, but in my opinion, the full tie-side bottom with the wavy edge is the most flattering. (And by “full” they are being generous – it is definitely more of a moderate coverage.) I believe the full tie-side bottom is new for Summer 2013, whereas they have the Brazilian cut for pretty much every style (umm, no thank you!). If you search for it, you’ll see it comes in a ton of solid colors as well.

Enjoy!

And, you’re welcome. ;o)

Images via Everything But Water

The post BIKINI LOVE
Luli Fama Swimwear appeared first on small shop by Erika Brechtel.

OK so I admit, I may have gotten a little too excited when I saw Simone Giorgi’s 1950′s Sydney beach house on Natalie Merrillyn last week. I mean, really: tropical AND modern AND vintage AND glam ALL IN ONE??? I think my head exploded! To settle me down, I had to create my own version for us to steal her look, with that covetable combination of the Martinique banana leaf pattern, white carrera marble, retro lighting, and black and gold HOTness for good measure (plus let’s tour the rest of her gorgeous home too!)…

STEAL THIS LOOK:
antiqued mirrored pendants / gold leaf coral art 1 / gold leaf coral art 2 / black jumpsuit / brass elephant / monogram blanket / banana leaf pillow / white carrera marble tripod table / python sandals

 /

My goodness, no words…I pretty much want it all.

/

The contemporary white kitchen (and her zebra jacket!) keeps it from going too vintage-y.

/

The smoky mirrored backsplash and cabinets are blowing my mind!

/

She kept it simple with such a busy bone inlay by sticking to black and white. Love!

/

You know my thoughts on a moody bedroom. Yes please!

/

How is she old enough to have a son that age? She is officially my idol.

/

To.Die.For. — yes?

Yes.

Images via Real Living

The post STEAL THIS LOOK
Tropical Mod Glam appeared first on small shop by Erika Brechtel.

How was your weekend? I got to do some accessory styling and that’s always a good time for a decor-nerd like myself. Last week I received this stunning silver leaf tray from Joy & Revelry – a new home decor website curated by our favorite designers and bloggers — and could not wait to put it to good use!  I was thrilled that it fit perfectly atop my grandparents’ teak buffet, nestled between my refurbished vintage white lattice lamps. I immediately got to work styling it up, and then realized, I guess I kinda have a “method to the madness” for this stuff. Get the look with my five easy tips…

1. Break it up in half, then break each half again.
Create sections and take one section at a time. I think in quadrants is easy.

2. Build up height with books and/or magazines.
Take at least one of those quadrants and fill it with a stack of books. You want to create pyramid-like levels from bottom to top, and from front to back.

3. Top the books with an accessory and/or flowers.
Fresh flowers in a small vase are always a plus, but any figurine, ashtray or bowl works just as well. Vintage pieces or interesting textural items are even better!

4. Fill in the blank areas with smaller accessories.
Candles, a bowl of matches, coasters, etc. totally work! Trick is you want to vary the sizes of the pieces within the tray.

5. Stick with a color scheme.
So it doesn’t start to look too busy, be sure to coordinate all the pieces within the tray.  You see here I went with glammy neutrals like black, white and gold (my faves, of course!).

/

What do you think, does this help to break it down?

BONUS! Save 10% sitewide on Joy & Revelry with code LDV_WHITEBOX_10!!!

What a treat for the start of the week, right?

Photo and styling by Erika Brechtel; silver leaf tray provided courtesy of Joy & Revelry, handpicked by Paloma Contreras

The post TRAY STYLING
5 Quick & Easy Tips appeared first on small shop by Erika Brechtel.

Happy Friday! It’s going to be a beautiful weekend here — officially the start of summer, woo hoo! But seeing how May is Women’s Health Month, I figured a diet and exercise post dedicated to all you moms and busy women out there was definitely in order! 

I am often asked how I got back in shape, post-baby — I’m here to tell you, I have no idea. Kidding! Seriously though, it’s nothing drastic, and forever a work in progress. I ran track and played collegiate soccer so I’ve always been fairly active, but when I hit 30, my metabolism slowed big time. Fast forward “a few” years later, two knee surgeries, a baby, and suddenly I realized: there really isn’t going to be a “perfect” time to take better care of myself, so I might as well start somewhere. What did I/do I do? I’m by no means a personal trainer or nutritionist, but here’s some of what has worked for me… and as always, I’d love to hear what works for you!

/

THE MINDSET

“Me” Time
Mom or not, women are busy busy. Taking a break to get to the gym for me is a luxury. I don’t see it as “exercise” but more of a time I get to listen to my fave tunes, clear my head, and bonus: my creativity and energy level increase, making me more productive in general. (Moms, if that makes you feel too selfish, think of it this way: you’re modeling a healthy lifestyle for your kids, and don’t you want to be able to keep up with them throughout life?)

You gotta start somewhere.
I think the biggest hurdle is just getting started. But there comes a point when you have to be honest with yourself: hello, you’re not getting any younger, and no one else is going to look out for you but YOU. Start slowly and build it up over time — it should make you feel good about yourself, not bad!

Anything is better than nothing!
Even if I can only get on the treadmill for 20 minutes before picking up my daughter from school, I know it’s going to make my next workout that much easier. That is motivation enough to get me in there even for a bit, no matter how busy I am. (And I just run a little faster!)

/

THE FUEL

Try a juice cleanse (and get 15% off!)
I’m kick-starting my summer with a juice cleanse from Ritual Wellness! They’re the only USDA certified 100% organic cold-pressed juicing company out there, and I love the fact that you can get 3+ pounds of fresh veggies in just one bottle of their greens juices. I want you to try a cleanse with me! Until June 9th, get 15% off a 3-day Classic or Seasonal Reset Cleanse with code MomMeReader! And add a few Shred workout juices at 15% off while you’re at it…

No diets! This is for life.
A diet implies there’s a beginning and an end, but there just isn’t a quick fix. I think it’s much easier to make small changes that you can live with, for life. Me, I don’t deprive myself or overindulge. Instead, I’ve figured out what works for me: I’m anemic so I do need to eat red meat every 2-3 days, which keeps up my energy level. I don’t buy sweets or white bread products for the house — no temptation there! And throughout the workday I’ll opt for healthy choices, which means for dinners, weekends, events, etc. I don’t really need to worry about it. Kinda nice!

Water water water…and more water.
I’ll be the first to tell you I’m a coffee (a.m.) and wine (p.m.) drinker — my vices! But I fill up a large water bottle and keep it on my desk to hydrate all day long. (I swear I’m not a health freak, I just function better with it!)

/

THE GEAR

Cute outfits (duh)
Lululemon is like a uniform here in the O.C. (is it where you live, too?). I find it to be stupid expensive but actually worth it. Maybe start with just one piece — and then get your other brand name gear on discount sites like 6pm.com.

Invest in good footwear.
I’ve had four knee surgeries (ugh), so good running shoes are critical for me — I’m a big Asics fan. But you can go to a running store and they’ll check your gait, stance, etc. to make sure you’re getting the right type of shoe. And replace your shoes every six months!

Music makes me move!
I cannot workout without good music, and Spotify is the best, seriously! It’s like iTunes and Pandora in one. You can listen to anything and create your own playlists. Download it for free on a computer, but it’s totally worth the $9.99/month to have the ability to listen to anything, anywhere, anytime online, on my phone, at the gym, in the car, while I’m cooking…the best! And be sure to get proper headphones meant for exercise (I love my Yurbuds!).

/

THE BOTTOM LINE

3x/week, minimum
I’ve heard that this is what you need to maintain. I find this is what I need to make sure I’m moving forward. I can definitely feel an improvement every time, and that is a great feeling. If you can get out more often, even better!

Find fun exercise options that work for you.
After the four knee surgeries, there isn’t much I can do besides running and spinning, and that works for me. But there are sooo many interesting, fun classes out there you can take — indoor and out! Mix it up to keep it interesting — I’d love to hear about them and live vicariously through you!

Don’t forget the weights!
This is especially important for women to prevent osteoporosis later in life. I only hit 5-6 machines — quick, easy, does the trick, for now.

/

EXTRA MOTIVATION?

Find your Mommy Muse.
I just picked up a copy of Brooke Burke’s book Naked Mama and discovered her website for moms, ModernMom.com that includes a boatload of articles, tips, exercises, recipes…you name it. (BTW I do not know how that woman has had five kids! That is inspiration enough, right?)

Book a trip.
Putting a real deadline on the calendar always keeps me on task — especially one where I’ll either see a lot of people I know and want to feel my best, and/or I’ll have to get into a bikini! Scare tactics = they do work.

YOLO!
This past year I’ve met two fantastic women who have really inspired me with their “YOLO” mantra – you only live once! So I’m making the most of it. I hope you are too!

/

What works for you?

And in case you missed it, check out “The MomME Files” #1: Dress to Impress Yourself >

The post “The MomME Files” #2:
Work It Out, Work It In appeared first on small shop by Erika Brechtel.

Happy hump day! Do we want to throw in the towel already or what? Maybe we could all use a little somethin’-somethin’ extra to keep us in it. Fortunately, artist Frank Stella provides the eye candy needed for my “Design Under the Influence” column over on La Dolce Vita today. Click on over to learn a little about why his work is important in the timeline of modern art, and as always, peep some sigh-inducing interiors…worth your while, I guarantee!

Enjoy!

Image: Lisa Perry’s Hamptons living room; photo by Marili Forastieri

The post MODERN ART MOMENT
with Artist Frank Stella appeared first on small shop by Erika Brechtel.