Elle Apparel

NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE SNAPCHAT OUTFITS

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 16:13:00 +0000

I had so much fun shopping the Nordstrom sale yesterday bright and early. I did most of my shopping for this sale online, but I knew I needed to get into the actual store to really let you know the look/feel of my favorite items. If you follow me on snapchat, I took you along with me while I tried everything on ;) I got lots of questions about the pieces, so I loaded all of my snaps below, as well as sizes I'm wearing and my personal thoughts on a lot of the items so that you can get an idea of how things fit.

These are kind of just thrown together in a big post, unfiltered. I started getting a little snap happy after only 3 hours of sleep...and snap chat is where I let it all hang out!

DISTRESSED JEANS | GREY SWEATER

DISTRESSED JEANS | GREY TOP | BLAZER

BROWN TASSEL CROSSBODY

CARGO JACKET | GREY TOP | DISTRESSED JEANS

PLAID TOP | BLACK PANTS

BLUE MIDI DRESS

PINK BLOUSE | DISTRESSED JEANS

RED PLAID TOP | DISTRESSED JEANS

CARDIGAN SWEATER | GREY TOP | DISTRESSED JEANS

LEATHER JACKET | DISTRESSED JEANS | STRIPED TOP

FLORAL BLOUSE | BLACK PANTS

COWL NECK SWEATER | DISTRESSED JEANS

BLACK AND WHITE STRIPE TOP | BLACK PANTS

PINK TOP | BLACK LEGGINGS

THE BEST OF THE NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 11:36:00 +0000

CLICK ON ANY OF THE IMAGES ABOVE TO SEE THE DISCOUNT!

I have to be honest..last year I was a little bit disappointed in the selection of sale items. But that is not the case this year! I was blown away by how great the selection of booties, larger bags, leather jackets, and distressed jeans they have this year!

I've rounded up all of my favorites by category below:

These open toe booties are such a closet staple and can be worn year-round. Booties almost identical to these sold out within a week last year, so jump on them this year!

Sell out alert! This bag is on sale for only $30 and it comes in cognac! One just like this sold out within days last year!

I am so excited about this leather jacket. It's exactly the style I've been searching for and I think I might make this my Birthday present!

I am completely in love with the detailing of this top.
Sell out alert! At only $15, this top will sell out fast (especially in the black and white stripe)

It's hard to tell from the picture, but these boot go just over the knee and are super flattering.

Sell out alert! These jeans have the best distressing and are a steal for $55!

This wallet is a great price for such good quality.

I've had my eye out for a good pair of leopard lace up flats, and these are just what I had in mind. For less than $60, they are a great buy!

I love the cut and color of this dress. Emerald is going to be so pretty for fall!

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HOW TO SHOP THE NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE THIS YEAR

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 11:00:00 +0000

*Shop all my picks for the 2016 Nordstrom Anniversary sale in this post

Today I'm going to get you all prepped and ready for one of the biggest and best sales of the year - the Nordstrom Anniversary sale! Like you, I love a good sale, and this one is my very favorite. I've been shopping and studying ;) this sale for a few years, and I wanted to share a few insider tips so that you can be prepared later this week when the sale starts!

(a round up of my favorite buys from last year's Nordstrom Anniversary sale)

one / two

three / four

five / six

seven / eight

WHAT IS THE NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE?
This sale is different than most of the big sales, because instead of marking down clothing items that have been available for a while or are past season, all of the Norstrom Aniversary Sale items are brand new for the upcoming Fall season! This is your first look at the upcoming trends, and a rare chance to get brand new seasonal items at a deeply discounted rate. Once the sale is over, the items that are not sold out remain available, but the prices all increase to their normal price.

WHEN IS THE NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE?
Early access to the sale is July 14th-21st (available to Nordstrom card holders only), and it opens up to the general public July 22nd-Aug 7th. Prices go up August 8th.

HOW CAN I SHOP THE NORDSTROM SALE EARLY?
In order to get the sale price during the early access from July 14th-21st, you have to have a Nordstom card. You can sign up for one online here. If you sign up now, before the sale starts, with this link, you will get $10 to spend during the sale. You will get your membership number right away, so you don't have to wait for your physical card to come in the mail before you can shop.

A few years ago, I signed up for my Nordstrom card the night before the sale started, and I had no problem using my brand new membership number to order online.

IS IT WORTH IT TO GET A NORDSTROM CARD JUST FOR THIS SALE?
I sure think so! A few years ago I didn't have a Nordstrom card, so I had to wait until it opened to the public to shop. I was so disappointed to find that a lot of the items on my wish list were sold out or out of my size. It's absolutely crazy how fast some of the items go. If you don't have a card yet, it isn't too late to register for one and be able to jump on that cute new Kate Spade bag, or laser cut booties right when they go on sale.

WHAT IS THE SMARTEST WAY TO SHOP THE SALE?
Online, online, online! I cannot stress this enough! In order to give you a detailed description of which items are good quality, flattering on, and cuter in person, I always brave the crowds....but it can be such a pain!

My advice to you is to get yourself a Nordstrom card if you don't already have one, and check out my blog first thing Thursday morning. I usually pull an all-nighter the night before the sale, narrowing down the items online, to select the best stuff. Then, place your order online first thing! If you aren't sure about sizing, order 2 sizes! Nordstrom's free shipping/return policy makes shopping so painless. Your order will come with a return label, so if there is anything you don't want, just stick it on your box and set it outside for the mailman to pick up. You don't even need to make a separate trip to the Post Office!

WHICH ITEMS SELL OUT THE FASTEST?
In the past years, the items that sold out the fastest were cognac ankle boots (especially ones with fringe, or this cut), Kate Spade and Tory Burch handbags and wallets, floppy felt hats, gold/nude flats (gold is always the most popular color because it goes with everything!) designer sunglasses, leather jackets (there is one jacket I have my eye on for this sale and I can't wait to show you!), slouchy striped tees, and cognac tote bags.

CAN I GET A PREVIEW OF WHAT ITEMS WILL BE AVAILABLE?
Yes! You can get a sneak peek of the Anniversary sale items here. Just scroll down to where it says Woman's Catalog | Men's Catalog

Make sure you check out my blog all throughout the day this Thursday the 14th. I always do my best to keep you guys updated, starting that morning, and I will do a Nordstrom sale round-up of all of the best items from the sale as well. You can see the ones I did for 2015 and 2014. I pour through pages and pages of sale items (so you don't have to) and only pick out the good stuff. Throughout the sale, I post about all my favorite buys (and why they are my favorites), I give dressing room peaks of multiple items and talk about the fit/style of each one, and I give fall styling tips to get your mind working on how you will want to style your sale buys.

Here are some of my wish list's from years past...

2015 WISH LIST

ONE / TWO / THREE / FOUR / FIVE / SIX / SEVEN / EIGHT / NINE / TEN / ELEVEN

2014 WISH LIST

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

If you have any questions or have specific items you will be looking for in the sale, just let me know in the comments

INSTAGRAM ROUNDUP + NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE DETAILS

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Barlow) — Sat, 09 Jul 2016 11:00:00 +0000

*Shop all my picks for the 2016 Nordstrom Anniversary sale in this post

WHITE DRESS | COGNAC WEDGES | STRAW TOTE BAG

Summer is for cute straw beach totes like this one. It's so fun! I love it. But definitely don't feel limited to just pulling it out for beach days. Totes like this work well for running errands, or even adding them to your summer date night look. I love how the straw in the bag looks with the cognac in my wedges and my white dress. It's just so summery.

Summer nights at a baseball game are so magical. This is the easiest comfy outfit for a game, or just running errands on days that you won't be in the sun too much. Converse are comfortable for long days, and they work well with any casual look. If you wanted to be cute and casual on a warmer day, you could switch out your jeans for a summer dress with your Chucks too. I linked to my gold hanging light because I love it and think it's adorable. But I also linked to my mannequin dress form for all of you girls interested! It's a great thing to have when you start sewing, so if you signed up for the Modern Girl Sewing courses and you've found a new love for sewing, this may be something worth purchasing.

You can never have too many summer days of white and denim. White on white, as you may know, is a favorite of mine. I love the simplicity and elegance in an all white look that adds just a touch of color. My denim jacket and cognac wedges give your eyes just a little bit of contrast to look at. But the all white look still keeps your focus and draws attention. My eyelet top is sold out, but I linked to a similar one that is currently on sale!

Okay, you guys. These blue heels are one my favorite pairs right now! I love them so much. They are fun and flirty, and have the cutest details. They work with a dressier look, but they are also the perfect addition to a more casual look with distressed jeans and your favorite solid colored top. I'm so bummed that my top is sold out because it is seriously amazing. But I found some other great white tops that have similar features, like elbow sleeves. This one has a twisted (bunching) detail in the front that is so pretty, and it's only $15. And this one has scallop details on the sleeves and bottom, plus it's $25!

Happy Saturday! I hope you guys are enjoying these roundups of some of my weekly Instagram outfit posts. Let me know if there are other types of posts that you would be interested in seeing (outside of my usual posts). I'd love to hear what you guys are interested in seeing and reading about on here!

I also wanted to remind everyone that the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (the biggest and best sale of the year) starts next week! Pre-sale for all cardholders starts on July 14th, which is next Thursday! For everyone else, the sale starts July 22nd and goes through August 7th. Oh my goodness you guys, it's time to mentally prepare yourselves for what's to come. This is the sale to save up for so that you can stock up on some key fall pieces to add to your wardrobe. I'm going to have a huge post for the sale next week, but I wanted to get you thinking about what's to come.

Have a great weekend!

RED SWING TASSEL DRESS TUTORIAL

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Sat, 09 Jul 2016 01:21:00 +0000

Every year for the 4th of July I like to make myself a patriotic dress to wear to church, to our cute little city parade. I was super pregnant with Eli last year and made this red and blue ruched dress (that I wish I could still wear!). This year I went with some lightweight fabric that is my absolute favorite shade of red. It's one of the few shades of red that I feel compliments the pin undertones in my skin. Red is tricky for me to wear I think, but I really do love the color of this dress. (my lipstick matches it perfectly- in "so chaud')

If you follow me on instagram you saw that I wore this dress to church on Sunday..and if you follow me on snapchat, you saw that I also wore this dress on the 4th to the parade! ;) You can view my Snapchat story from the 4th of July and see a bit of the dress in action here. (can you even handle how our night ended?! The boys were such good sports about everything)

I've listed all the instructions on how to make the dress below after the jump, but if you aren't a sewer and are interested in learning, I have a whole online video sewing course that teaches you every single thing I know! You can check out the courses at moderngirlsewing.com. If you don't sew but are looking for a similar dress, I found this dress and this dress that are both less than $12! I freaked out when I saw the price. It would be super simple to attach some cute white or navy tassel or pom pom trim to the sleeves to achieve a super similar dress.

Also make sure to check back next week when I break down everything you need to know about the most amazing sale of the year!

CLICK THE LINK BELOW FOR THE FULL TUTORIAL...

MATERIALS:

3 yards of lightweight poly/cotton blend fabric
trim (long enough to fit around each arm. (mine measured 30")

I added all the measurements to my dress in the image above for reference.

STEP 1: Lay one of your side panels on top of the front of your dress, rt sides together with the extra material of the panel pointing toward the middle. Serge them together along the edge. (if you don't have a serger, you can always stitch with 1/2" s.a. and zigzag the seam allowance to keep from fraying)

STEP 2: Open up your front and back pieces that you just stitched together and lay your second panel piece rt. sides together with the extra fabric pointing toward the center and stitch up the opposite side.

STEP 3: Open up all three of these pieces now sewn together (side panel, front, and 2nd side panel). Lay you back piece on top of it with rt sides together (this will be the exact same measurements and pattern piece as your front piece). Match up the side seams of the back piece with the unsewn sides of each panel piece and sew up either side. With the dress currently inside out, stitch up the front and back pieces along the top of the sleeves.

STEP 4: Turn your dress rt. side out, and prep and insert your sleeves.

STEP 5: Serge/finish the raw edges of the bottom of your sleeves and attach the trim along the bottom. Serge along your neckline and bottom of the dress, fold under twice, and stitch with a wide straight stitch all around the neckline and hem.

INSTAGRAM ROUNDUP

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Barlow) — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 11:00:00 +0000

This skirt is so pretty! I linked to the same skirt in hot pink because it's $20 less and under $50! So worth it. Both colors are great for summer, and they are easy to pair with solid color tops. The white blouse I have on is sold out, but this one is similar (also high/low) and would look great tucked in to this skirt. I added heels that were just a few shades lighter than my skirt to keep my look very feminine and classic. I linked to a couple color options above.

BATHING SUIT | SUNGLASSES | PANAMA HAT

This bathing suit is just so pretty. Florals are so in right now, especially in bathing suits. In case you missed my post with all the suits I wore in Hawaii, you can see that here. I share details on all the suits I'm wearing (how they fit, why I love them, and what size I'm wearing) to help answer any questions you may have before purchasing one. And I did another post on swimsuit trends that I'm loving this summer. One of those is florals, so I linked to lots of pretty suits there too (and a couple below).

OFF THE SHOULDER DRESS | GOLD WRAP SANDALS | PANAMA HAT | RED BAG | SIMILAR PHONE CASE

If you have a spare weekend this summer to get away with your girlfriends, do it. I had a blast, and I got to unwind and just relax which was so nice. This was the perfect weekend getaway look. I love an easy summer dress that you can throw on for the day. And my bag (on the bed, in case you missed it!) is currently on sale. I love how bright it is. And it's a great tote for when you travel because it holds a ton of stuff.

This is one of my favorite casual looks. Layering is somehow possible, even in hot weather! But really, I do love to layer, and adding a long vest is the perfect addition to a casual look. It adds both dimension and style to your basic jeans and top look. I kept my outfit pretty neutral, so adding a bag that tied in the brown leather from my sandals was an easy choice. I love this bag. It's not just your typical brown crossbody. It has a unique style that differentiates it from the rest, with pretty stud details that give it a modern look. And these jeans... I forgot how much I love them. So comfortable.

I love the details in this dress. It's another dress you can wear all day long. It's casual, but definitely sophisticated and stylish enough to dress up for a summer dinner with friends. These sandals are some of my favorites this summer, but these are very similar if you are looking for something a little less expensive. My hat is also one of my favorites this summer. It is easy to put on with just about anything, and it's not too big or bulky. I love how it looks with dresses for causal summer days.

Happy holiday weekend everyone! I hope that this 4th of July you are able to enjoy some quality time off with your families! In case you missed my 4th of July outfit post, I rounded up 20 (yes, 20!) outfit inspirations to help you decide what to wear to all the events you have planned this weekend. You can view the post here.

I pulled from recent posts, as well as some older outfits (I'm talking maternity old!), so if something was sold out I linked to similar items that are currently available. Most of all, I hope you are able to use it as a guide for you to get some ideas from for whatever it is you have planned this weekend. There are outfits for just about any event you might be going to (parades, BBQs, parks, firework shows, parties, church, farmers markets, etc.), so be sure to check it out for some inspiration! And let me know what you guys have planned this weekend. I always love to hear what everyone is up to, and what your favorite traditions are for the 4th!

INSTAGRAM ROUNDUP

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Barlow) — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 11:00:00 +0000

This is the ultimate way to layer for the summer. Find a vest that you love, and add it to a comfortable longer tee (stripes are always good) over your favorite jeans or white pants. With long vests, I always make sure they are adding to my outfit without being too distracting. Look for neutral colors and lighter weight fabrics and you'll be good. When wearing hats in the summer, the key is looking put together with minimal effort so don't overthink your outfit too much or stress about perfect hair. Think casual. My hat is currently on sale under $20!

I'm so glad I got this lilac top. It's seriously so versatile, and the color is amazing. I wore it here with white pants and wedges, and look how perfectly it works tucked into a polka dot skirt. Solid tops are always a great investment for that reason; you can literally add them to any kind of look (especially patterns with the right color combos), and it turns something basic into a unique, tailored look.

Lace tops are perfect for summer. They easily dress up your outfit, and they are lightweight and airy. I linked to three that are really pretty and detailed (but all a little different). Because lace is naturally so feminine, adding a distressed pair of jeans gives your look a little more edge, which I like for nights that are more casual. You could just as easily add your favorite lace top to white pants and heels for a dressier look.

WHITE PUMPS

I love the shape to these white pumps. They are so stylish and unique, and they are a great investment because they can be paired with just about any look you'll be wearing this summer.

20 OUTFIT IDEAS TO HELP YOU DECIDE WHAT TO WEAR ON THE 4TH OF JULY

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 18:19:00 +0000

I've rounded up all of my favorite red, white, and blue looks today to give you a little inspiration for planning your 4th of July outfit! So whether you need something to wear to a BBQ at a friends house, the fireworks show on the football field, or a church outfit the Sunday before the 4th of July, I've got you covered for any occasion that requires a patriotic color combo! I'll be posting my current 4th of July looks over on my Instagram as well, so make sure you follow along with me there!

Since some of these looks are older, I've linked to the same, or similar, items beneath each photo if you want to know the sources. However, this post is mostly to help you get a little inspiration for your looks! It's probably a good idea to pin this main image so you can come back to it easily later!

STRIPED DRESS | SIMILAR DENIM VEST | SIMILAR TOTE | SIMILAR SANDALS | SUNGLASSES

I love that this look has some tried and true Fourth of July staples like a jean vest, stripes, and pops of red in this bag. This dress comes in both navy and red or navy and white stripes, and either option would work great for the Fourth.

SIMILAR FLORAL PRINT DRESS, SHIRT AND ROMPER | SIMILAR DISTRESSED JEANS | SIMILAR BLUE BAG | SIMILAR SUNGLASSES

If you like to keep your red, white, and blue a little more casual and subdued, adding some pops of red or blue florals and a matching bag works really well. It's easy to pull together and doesn't require overdoing the patriotic look if that's not your thing. Both my top and bag are older, so I linked to a few other floral options (including a dress and a romper if want to forego the jeans), and a cute blue Kate Spade bag that I love.

I love the look of red with black and white stripes. It's so classic looking, and it ends up working out really well for the Fourth. If you're looking for the perfect look for church the weekend before the Fourth, this would be a great option. Any red midi skirt will work, but I love the look of a full high waisted skirt that comes up over your striped top. This skirt is one I made, but I linked to this one that is similar.

This look is casual, comfortable, and patriotic all in one. You can't go wrong with a chambray top for the Fourth. And these white linen pants are not only ridiculously comfortable, they work well with lots of different top options and do well with bright pops of color.

DRESS (MADE BY ME, SEE TUTORIAL HERE) SIMILAR HERE AND HERE | SIMILAR CLUTCH | SIMILAR SHOES

If you have a dressier Fourth of July event to go to, there is nothing quite like an all red look! Add some simple nude sandals and a statement clutch and you're set. My floral clutch is sold out, but I linked to one of my favorite red clutches (that also comes in light blue).

Here is another outfit that combines red, white, and blue effortlessly. Again, you can't go wring with a classic stripe look, especially one that has really bold white and navy stripes. It makes everything else stand out so well, like this red top and gold clutch.

Fourth of July is usually filled with picnics, parks, and running around with the family, so this sporty look works well for those types of things. It's a little edgy, but still cute and feminine. I easily added some blue to my look with a cute baseball hat and a pop of red with a flannel tied around my waist. Simple, cute, and practical (you've got an extra layer when it cools off).

I love finding non-traditional ways to incorporate reds, whites, and blues for the Fourth. Finding patterns, like the one in my dress, that adds these colors is not only stylish but it's unique. I also love the way these gold flats go with the blues and reds.

GREY PLEATED TOP (SOLD OUT, SIMILAR HERE) | BLUE KNIT PENCIL SKIRT | COGNAC FLATS | BAG | SUNGLASSES

This blue midi skirt stands out so well. I love how good it looks with a simple top tucked in. You can add a basic white top and a pop of red in a clutch if you want to make this look a little more patriotic. But it also works well for the Fourth with this grey top and some brown sandals, making it just a bit more subtle.

To me, this is the all-American look everyone loves for the Fourth. It's easy to wear your jeans and a basic white tee all day, to BBQ's, picnics, fireworks shows, and just about anywhere your Fourth of July plans take you. Adding some key pieces of color in a cute baseball hat or some red flats is super easy, but there are lots of other ways you can add color to this look too.

TOP MADE BY ME (TUTORIAL HERE) SIMILAR TOP HERE AND HERE | WHITE SHORTS | SUNGLASSES | PANAMA HAT

Gingham in blue is perfect for the Fourth. It's stylish and classic, and when paired with white shorts it guarantees a polished look that isn't over done. If you're expecting hot weather, this is always an outfit that will keep you cool all day long.

SIMILAR WHITE DRESS HERE AND HERE | SIMILAR GOLD SANDALS HERE AND HERE | SIMILAR NECKLACE | SIMILAR BRACELET | STRAW HAT

White dresses are such a summer staple. They go with so many things, and they are comfortable and lightweight in the heat. This dress is detailed with an eyelet pattern, while this one is a bit more basic. Add some reds and blues in your jewelry, or keep it a little more neutral and add some gold sandals, like this pair of gladiators. Adding a hat is another way to keep cool and also adds a little more depth to your look.

This look is all about function. If you're planning on being on the go this Fourth of July, plan to be comfortable. You don't have to sacrifice style to achieve comfort like so many people think. Adding a basic, but cute and colorful, plaid shirt to your favorite jeans is a sure way to feel yourself wherever you end up celebrating the Fourth. You can make your outfit stand out a little more by adding some statement shoes like these metallic flats.

SIMILAR NAVY DRESS HERE AND HERE AND HERE | NAVY HEELS | CREAM BAG | BEE CUFF

I love this dress for so many reasons. It has amazing details, and it's the perfect shade of blue. Plus, these navy heels match perfectly. Since it sold out, I tried to link to as many similar dresses as I could find. This one sold out in the navy, but it comes in burgundy, which is just as perfect for the Fourth!

To dress up your jeans just enough, add a top with some details (like the eyelet detail in this top) and shoes that add some flare. You're sure to remain comfortable in this look, but you'll also add an element of distinctive style that is a couple steps up from your basics look. Add some red lipstick and you're Fourth of July ready!

DRESS | HEELS | SIMILAR EARRINGS | LADDER CUFF | INITIAL NECKLACE

This is another great outfit for church the weekend before the Fourth of July. Bodycon dresses are bold and classic, and there's no better time to pull out your blue dresses than the Fourth!

If you're looking to dress up your Fourth of July look this year, I'm a huge fan of lace tops. They're delicate, and they look so pretty with just about anything. I love this light blue lace top with white pants. I linked to a similar lace top that would be perfect with jeans and some wedges.

White pants and jean jackets are always a summer favorite of mine. You can add some more red and blue to this look with a different bag or hat, but the black and white stripes aren't too far fetched for the Fourth, so don't think you have to change this up too much.

Red tops look so good with jeans for the Fourth. You can be dressy or casual with this look. I like how the booties keep it casual. You can even add your favorite open-toed booties to dress it up a little more. Or throw on some converse for an even more relaxed feel.

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE TRICKS FOR TRAVELING WITH KIDS (+ OUR HAWAII FAMILY PHOTOSHOOT)

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 11:00:00 +0000

thank you to Zappos for sponsoring this post

ON ME: BEADED SWIM COVER KAFTAN | WHITE CROCHETED ONE PIECE (I'm wearing a size S/D. The fit/support with this suit is amazing! And the bow detail on the back is my favorite)

ON GARRETT: GREY TRUCKER HAT | WHITE RASH GUARD | BLUE/YELLOW STRIPED BOARD SHORTS | BROWN SANDALS

ON BRADLEY: MINT RASH GUARD | BLUE/WHITE SRIPED BOARD SHORTS | LIGHT BLUE NATIVES

ON CASH: WHITE RASH GUARD | RED/WHITE/BLUE STRIPED BOARD SHORTS | RED NATIVES

ON ELI: NAVY/WHITE STRIPED ZIP INFANT BATHING SUIT

When Garrett and I decided that we wanted to take everyone on our trip to Hawaii, I sat down and made a list of things I thought we could do to make the trip a little easier on us, but still fun and memorable for this kids. After the trip, I reworked my list a bit to include things I discovered while we were on vacation, and I removed a few ideas I had that didn't quite pan out.

A few days after we got home, Garrett and I jumped on Periscope (I'm @leannebarlow over there, make sure to follow along if you don't already!) I uploaded our scope at the bottom of this post, but I thought I would break it down for you here as well...

INVOLVE THE KIDS EARLY ON
Shortly after we booked our trip, Garrett and I decided we wanted to get the boys super pumped about our vacation. So before telling them, we randomly talked about traveling and fun places we would like to travel as a family. We casually mentioned Hawaii and how beautiful and fun it would be to go there. We got them excited about Hawaii before they even knew we were going.

To tell them, we were big gigantic dorks and put on leis and grass skirts, and hula'd into the family room in pure unadulterated embarrassing-parent fashion. (lucky for us, the kids are too young to know that they should have been royally embarrassed by this). We made telling them about our trip fun and memorable before we even left for vacation.

SET REALISTIC SIGHTSEEING EXPECTATIONS
We really limited the placed we planned on physically traveling to on our trip. We've learned from past vacations that the boys have the most fun when they get to just play at the hotel pool all they want. So we put our focus on booking some really great hotels rather than spending the money on the excursions we could take that would be away from the hotels. (I talked more about the hotels we stayed at here and here)

MAKE PACKING KID FRIENDLY
We tried to keep our packing as light as we could, and thought about things we would actually use. We knew we really wanted phones and electronics to capture our memories on the trip, so we ordered waterproof cases for our phones, and a good backpack to store our camera in. (I wrote about how to create a family travel video in this post).

I looked through new bathing suits for our trip on Zappos.com with the boys, and let them pick out the style of the suit they wanted and the color of their shoes. I was grateful their free one-day-shipping made it super easy to get everything on time. (or exchange it for free if needed)

I let them pick out a few inexpensive things to pack in their own backpacks on the flight. We got tiny notebooks, a small thing of crayons, and one little toy that they couldn't play with until we were actually on the plane. That made them excited to fly and helped keep them entertained on the long flight.

GET TO THE AIRPORT EARLY...REALLY EARLY
Most airports are extra crowded during summer/travel months. We were stressed enough trying to get everything ready for the trip, we didn't want the added stress of possibly missing our flight. We ended up getting to the airport 3 1/2 hours before our flight and we were calm because we knew we had plenty of time. We let the boys run around at the airport to get out their energy. It's always better to try and find things to do with the kids because you have extra time at the airport than being stressed and rushing through the airport with kids!

SOMETIMES EASE OUTWEIGHS PRICE
We did a few things throughout our trip that cost us a little more, but were well worth the hassle of trying to save a few bucks. For example, one of the nights we ordered pizza and paid to have it delivered right to our room, rather than try to go drive to pick it up. We were all wiped out from a long day at the beach and that gave us time to bathe the boys and enjoy a simple dinner delivered right to us.

EXPRESS YOUR GRATITUDE FIRST
Of course we wanted the boys to realize how lucky they are to be on vacation. But instead of telling them "Do you realize how lucky you are?" or "Aren't you so thankful that we are in Hawaii on vacation?!" we talked about how grateful we were instead. "I am so lucky that I get to have all my boys with me here on vacation!" This accomplishes 2 things: it shows your kids how much you love having them part of your family, and it teaches them that this is something they should be grateful for too! And it worked!

PLAN AHEAD FOR THE MEMORIES YOU WANT TO COME HOME WITH
I knew that I wanted to get some shots of our whole family on the beach, so I did some research on local photographers in the area and contacted one whose work I loved. We scheduled our shooting date in advance and it was so worth it to have these memories from our trip captured professionally!

Here is our periscope....

pin it for later....

in collaboration with Zappos | photography by Kenna Reed Photo

11 TIPS ON HOW TO SHOOT A FAMILY VACATION VIDEO LIKE A PRO + OUR HAWAII TRIP (PART 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 14:14:00 +0000

For the last 2 days of our trip, we stayed at the Aston Waikiki Beach Tower. It is directly across the street from the amazing beach we went surfing at. Our room had the most amazing view of Waikiki with a balcony we ate our breakfast, lunch, and dinner on. On the last day of our trip we spend the morning in our suit and just relaxed. It rained a bit that day, so the boys watched cartoons in their room, Eli napped in our room, and Garrett and I relaxed on the couch watching the rain on the ocean. It was so calm and peaceful, and will be one of my favorite memories from the trip.

I posted the first video from our trip in this post, and you can watch the video from the second part of our trip below. I've gotten a ton of questions about how I captured our footage during our trip and I listed 11 tips and answers to all the questions I have had at the bottom of this post.

our room at the Aqua Aston was literally across the street from the beach we surfed at! It was the best location!

ORANGE ROMPER

the views from our hotel balcony were incredible!

this is the view from the master bedroom. we watched the sunrise from our room and the sunset from the balcony.

Cash was up with nightmares the night before we went surfing, but he popped right up and loved it!

this shot just melts my heart!

we got to visit our good friends Joy and Drew while we were there and Joy taught us all how to surf! If I can get up on a board, anyone can get up. I have the worst balance and thought for sure I wouldn't be able to do it!

the Hawaii temple is so pretty!

TUTORIAL FOR MY TOP HERE

I had .5 seconds to grab this shot and then run over and save Eli.

After I did my first recap post from our Hawaii trip with Part 1 of our vacation video, I got tons of questions about how I filmed the video. So for this second half of our trip recap, I'm sharing all the tricks I learned in order to get great footage and create a family vacation video like a professional...

1. Shoot the footage first:

When we would get to the beach or pool, I would always pull out the camera and film the kids first jumping in the pool or running into the beach water. Filming first thing will accomplish a few things- it will capture the pure excitement of your kids as they experience a fresh day by the water or new experience and not trying to cram in some footage after a long exhausting day when everyone is tired. You won't have to tell them to smile or act for the camera, because they will be already excited about the beginning of a new day. Tell them up front "Let me take some video first, then we can dig for shells and have a water fight!" Set the expectation that if they cooperate in the beginning for a few minutes, you will be able to give them your full attention and play after. If you wait too long to pull out the camera chances are you will be stressing the whole time that you don't have the footage you had hoped for, the kids will be tired and cranky, you will be covered in sand and worried that you will ruin the camera, etc.

2. Shoot with multiple devices:

We filmed our vacation videos with my phone, Garrett's phone, and our DSLR camera. Yes, I had to load all the footage from 3 locations, but it allowed for us to film as the vacation happened with whatever we had at the moment. The quality of iphone video is so amazing anyway, there isn't too much of a change in the video when it changes to different devices. Plus you can get more natural fun footage from your phone (like Garrett spraying the boys with sunscreen from this video)

3. Get a waterproof camera case (vs. buying a GoPro):

First off, even if you have a GoPro, I would suggest getting a waterproof case for your phone regardless. If will keep your camera protected from the elements and allow you to have it out, rather than hid away to stay protected. Also, back up your phone before you go! That way if something does happen, you won't lose precious phone info. I did a ton of research on GoPros before our trip and was pretty sure we would get one. But the more I asked around, I realized that we would get just as goo quality video on our phones. My worry was that the phone would get ruined...but with out covers, that problem was solved. We might eventually get a GoPro for future vacations, but a selfie stick and waterproof cases ended up working GREAT for us! (and I was able to snapchat under water...which was awesome)

4. Rent a lens:

I've been eyeing a few new lenses for a couple months. I decided to rent a 24-105mm lens for our trip rather than buy it at this point. The total to rent the lens came to around $120 for 7 days and that was so worth it to me. I got to really utilize the lens, make sure that I loved it before actually forking over the money for it, and I got amazing quality pictures!

5. Film things in short clips:

One major trick that I learned was to keep each filming session short. When you are filming it might feel like you need to keep the camera rolling for multiple minutes, but it will be a little slow and boring when you actually sit down and watch the playback. I tended to film in 20-50 second clips. That way it was easy to wade through which clips I wanted to include in the final video and condense those even further as I edited the footage.

6. Try not to stage your footage too much:

You want the happy smiles and bubbly kids...but you also want it to be genuine. There were a few times when filming where I would call out to the boys "ok, make the biggest splash you can!" but that was about it. When I tell them to smile, they usually make it super goofy and overdone...not authentic. You kind of have to morph into a spy and just wait for the real raw emotions before starting to film. And your kids don't always have to me smiling and laughing in the footage! In this video I captured Eli pushing his bottle off the table and then looking down like "where did it go?" and its so real and so cute I want to bash my head into a wall. A small snippet of real life that I will look back and bawl into a pillow when he is no longer a baby.

7. Add music:

You don't have to add music to you whole video...sometimes it so fun to hear your kid voices or what is really going on in the footage. However, I will say, when you are watching the footage back in your office..it's a lot less exciting that hearing it all when you were actually on the beach. One thing I am so glad I did was I had Garrett create a Hawaii play list. He loaded 12 songs that we love as a family right now and we played it during out trip. Then I had some of those songs be on our videos, and its just a perfect fit. Also, whenever we hear those songs in the future we are reminded of that particular trip.

8. Keep it short:

I mentioned it earlier, but keep our clips short. When I edit our videos, I tried to only add about 6 second clips at a time. And I usually keep our videos around 6 minutes. The boys like watching it over and over and you don't need too long of clips to be able to relive the fun you had. ( I just use imovie for those wondering. There are lots of great tutorials on how to use it and its very user friendly!)

9. Take turns filming:

You shouldn't have to be the one filming the whole time, and neither should your husband. If your husband hates taking pictures/video, then throw on some volumizing mascara and bat those lashes at him and make him get on board with helping to film. Because you will want clips of you playing with your kids and your husband! Especially if you are using phone, you don't need to be a pro to film. You basically just need to be a warm body behind the camera. Just make sure you tell him these expectations before the trip so he knows the kind of help you would like.

10. Start filming from the beginning:

Like..the very beginning. I didn't include this in my videos, but we filmed us telling the boys we were going to Hawaii. (we dressed up in ridiculous lei's and grass skirts and hula'd into the room to tell them where we were going. The ultimate dorky parents and it was amazing.) Film the boys playing at the airport, during the flight, walking into your hotel (usually those reactions were the best from the boys! They loved seeing their bed, bathroom, balcony, etc). If you get in the habit of pulling out your camera from the minute your trip starts, chances are you will keep remembering to pull out the camera. If you wait too long it might be easy to just leave the camera in the bag the whole time. What a shame that would be!

11. Load your video with the highest quality:

When I upload my videos I load them with the highest quality I can. Yes, a 4 minute video takes about 4 hours to render in HD, but now we can watch it on all our devices and the quality is as good as the footage. You won't go back and upload it in a better quality later because you don't have the time to do it right now. You just won't do it. Upload it right the first time and you can be completely done when it's loaded.

INSTAGRAM ROUNDUP + FATHER'S DAY GIFT GUIDE

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Barlow) — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 11:00:00 +0000

White and denim. Is there anything better? I love an all white look that adds just a touch of denim. It's classic and summery all in one. When wearing one color on the top and bottom like this, it always helps to break it up by adding a slight tuck of your top like I did. It gives your outfit definition, and makes it so you don't get lost in all the white. When adding shoes to an all white look I always consider the accessories and bag I want to wear, and then find something that fits in the same color family.

Sometimes dressing up includes jeans instead of a dress or skirt. When dressing up jeans, I love adding pieces like these open-toe booties and this lace top because they add style and elegance. The high neck on this top also adds some sophistication to the look, which adds to the dressiness. It's easy to associate high neck tops with fall, but with choker necklaces making their comeback, high neck tops are definitely a trend to try this summer.

Adding texture is an easy way to wear all one color. My white top stands out from my white pants because of the eyelet detail. And I break up the color even more by adding cognac sandals (they look nude in the picture, which would totally work too) and gold jewelry. You can just as naturally add a pop or color in your shoes, which is another reason I love the versatility of an all white look.

I wish this lace top was still available because it's just so lovely. It has such pretty details on it that make it unique. I linked to a similar lace top, that is just as pretty and elegant though! It's hard to go wrong with white, lace, and denim. And I love how lace has such a graceful way of effortlessly dressing up an otherwise basic look.

FATHER'S DAY IS SUNDAY, JUNE 19TH

Happy Saturday everyone! Don't forget that tomorrow is Father's Day! It's so important to make sure the dads in our life feel loved every day, but tomorrow we get to really spoil them more than usual.

I put together a Father's Day gift guide below, and I made it really easy to shop the items right from this post. So if you forgot, or haven't had time to run out and get something for all the dads in your life, this list will hopefully help you with some simple, affordable (all items are under $50!), and meaningful gift ideas.

Have a wonderful weekend celebrating Father's Day and enjoying time spent with family!

Father's Day Gift Guide

Clothing:

For the stylish men in your life (or the ones you'd like to make a little more stylish) this short sleeve button-up shirt is versatile enough to wear out for a date night, or just running errands on the weekends.
The classic knit polo is another versatile option (and one a lot of the older dads may like), and it comes in lots of colors so you can really tailor it to the dad you're shopping for.

Activewear:

For the active dads in your life, a new running top like this Nike zip-up or this Under Armor hooded henley are always a good option that won't break the bank and end up getting a lot of use.
Hats are another great gift option for dads who like to wear them because they can be thrown on right away. This Nike hat is a great option for a more active look, and this Brixton hat is great for adding to a more casually dressed look.

Accessories:

You can't go wrong with a S'well water bottle for any of the dads in your life. The colors available for men are basic, but still sophisticated and stylish.
If your go-to gift for Father's Day is always a classic tie, try changing things up this year with a floral tie. This one is really subtle in black and white floral. You can go a bit more out there if you want, but I think even the more conservative tie wearers could pull this one off.

You can shop all my Father's Day gift ideas here:

OFF THE SHOULDER DRESS TUTORIAL

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 11:00:00 +0000

DRESS MADE BY ME (ALMOST IDENTICAL DRESS HERE AND AN OPTION UNDER $40 HERE AND HERE) | GOLD GLADIATOR SANDALS | STRAW POM POM TOTE BAG | SUNGLASSES

I posted a little sneak peek of this dress when I wore it in Hawaii, and I'm excited today to bring you the full tutorial on how you can make a custom off the shoulder dress for your next beach trip! Before we left on our family vacation to Hawaii last month, I was itching to sew an off the sleeve dress for a beach cover up. There are so many adorable off the shoulder dresses for sale (this one and this one are my favorites), but I had some really pretty lightweight coral fabric in my stash that I wanted to use up. I came across this dress online and I knew I had to recreate it with my coral fabric.

The off the shoulder trend is one of my favorite trends this summer, because I feel like the clavicle and shoulders are such a pretty and classy way to show a little skin. Plus, you don't have to worry about getting tan lines if you wear it as a cover up to the pool and beach.

To style an off the shoulder dress, I would say skip the necklace, especially if you are wearing it as a swim cover. Throw on a simple pair of stud earrings intead, and pull your hair away from your face a bit. If you throw too much jewelry on it distracts from the silhouette of the dress. When it comes to resort wear, I really think something more simple, understated, and less styled ends up looking a lot more chic and timeless.

GET THE FULL TUTORIAL FOR THIS TOP AFTER THE JUMP BELOW..

If you don't know how to sew, now is the time to learn! We are running our big summer sale over at moderngirlsewing.com where you can get 25% off of any of our online sewing courses with the code: SUMMER25. The sale ends on Monday! Summer is the best time to sew, and this dress is really great for a beginner. You can find out more about the courses here.

Materials:

3 yards of fabric (I used a light weight polyester/cotton blend)
1 1/2 yards of 1/2" elastic
matching thread

STEP 1:

Cut out 2 rectangles of fabric that measure about 1 1/2 x your chest width, and 28" long (you can make it as long or short as you would like). Cut out small arm holes (keep in mind these can be very short holes, since the top will hit you a few inched underneath your armpit).

STEP 2:

Lay your 2 bodice pieces Rt sides together and stitch up either side with 1/2" seam allowance (sa).

STEP 3:

Open your bodice and serge around the armpit opening, then fold under 1/4", press, and stitch.

STEP 4:

Cut your 2 strips of fabric 15" wider than your bodice pieces, place them rs togther, and stitch up the sides with 1/2" sa.

STEP 5:

Serge around the bottom of your stitched together strips of fabric, fold under 1/4", pin your trim along the edge and stitch.

STEP 6:

Fold the top of your long strip over 1" and stitch all around leaving a 2" opening.

STEP 7:

Slide the bodice through the exact middle of the long strip of fabric and place the seam allowances together. Stitch all around the top of the round strip with a 5/8" seam allowance, leaving a small opening where the elastic will fit

STEP 8:

Insert one of the ends of the elastic into the top of the bodice through the 3" opening. Pin the end of the elastic in place so it doesn't pull all the say through, and stitch the 2 ends together. Hem along the bottom of the bodice with 1/2" sa.

I found a lot of similar dresses that you can shop here:

OUR HAWAII TRIP (PART 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 11:00:00 +0000

We got back from our trip to Oahu a few weeks ago, and I'm already getting antsy to start planning our next vacation! I was a little worried that traveling with all of the kids was going to be completely exhausting. Well, it was...but it was WORTH it! I'm recapping the first part of our trip today, and I put together a little video below. The pictures are so fun to have, but it's the video that really shows what a blast we all had!

The first part of our trip we stayed at The Outrigger Reef Waikiki. It's a gorgeous family friendly resort right in the heart of Waikiki.

FLORAL BATHING SUIT

because of the time change, we all work up really early Hawaii time, so we would walk down to a pier at the hotel and watch the sunrise. (can you tell it's 5:30am? haha!)

(my suit is 30% off right now! you can find it here)

The boy loved having their own room at the outrigger. We got 2 rooms that joined and it was so nice to be able to close the boys door once they were all asleep. We all got a good nights rest because of it!

DELSEY LUGGAGE | PINK SUIT (CURRENTLY 30% OFF!) | STRIPED CROCHET BAG

NAVY OFF THE SHOULDER DRESS

ELI'S OUTFIT

The boys weren't too into snorkeling, but they were obsessed with watching the fish with their goggles. Even in such shallow water they could see lots of fish!

During our stay at The Outrigger Reef we checked out the Waikiki Beach Walk, right next to the hotel. They have great shopping, yummy restaurants, and this cute splash pad for the boys to play in.

I stopped into a cute little boutique called Mahina that had the best stuff! Lots of light airy pieces with a laid back beachy feel. I picked up some white cut off shorts and a cute turquoise ring.

They even had a spot in the store with toys, so the boys were entertained while I shopped!

The boy's favorite store by far was Candy Bar. They were in heaven because we pretty much let them have all the sugar they wanted. This candy shop has the most amazing cotton candy. We also got a box of chocolate covered macadamia nut balls. OH my gosh! I cannot stress to you enough how amazing these were. I honestly ate 90% of the box myself.

We also stopped in Truffaux, a boutique that carries the best panama hats. All the hats are hand woven and take between 4-6 months to create. It was so interesting to learn about the how these hats are made, and we each walked out with one that we wore pretty much the rest of our trip.

I snuck off to the gym while the boys were all napping. I sweat way more in Hawaii than I usually do during a workout!

I made my coral dress (tutorial coming soon!) but you can shop an identical one here.

We got the boys squirt guns for the pool before we left and they carried them everywhere we went!

We loved every minute at The Outrigger Reef Resort and I would highly recommend the resort, especially if you are traveling with kids. It was super family friendly and we met lots of other families while we were out at the pool. The staff was so friendly and the bellmen were all so cute and nice to the boys (even when they climbed all over their luggage carts like monkeys).

On our last night there we let the boys swim and we ordered dinner poolside from the restaurant they have next to the pool. Garrett and I sat at our table eating while we watched the boys swim and listened to the live Hawaiian music. It was so relaxing!

THE MODERN GIRL'S GUIDE TO SEWING SUMMER SALE!

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 11:00:00 +0000

Our Modern Girl's Guide to Sewing Summer SALE is finally here! Merrick and I both love sewing sun dresses, beach coverups, and skirts during the summer, and we want to teach you how to also! We thought a sale would be the perfect way to kick off some summer sewing. Head over to moderngirlsewing.com to grab our Beginner Course and/or our Intermediate Course for 25% off with the code: SUMMER25 from now through June 20th.

Our Beginner Course has a full step-by-step video tutorial at the end on how to make this elastic waistband skirt, and our Intermediate Course walks you through how to make this shift dress. Both are perfect for the summer!

The Modern Girl's Guide to Sewing is a two part online video series where Merrick and I teach you everything you need to know about how to sew your own clothing. We start at the very beginning (how to thread your machine, all the different kinds of fabric and stitches, etc) and we take you clear through to the more complicated things like how to insert an invisible zipper and insert a sleeve. You can watch a clip that shows just how fun our courses are here.

If you've had your eye on these course, make sure you jump on the chance to get 25% off! We would love to teach you everything we know about clothing design and construction!.

INSTAGRAM ROUNDUP

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Barlow) — Sat, 11 Jun 2016 19:50:00 +0000

All white is one of my favorite go-to looks for summer. It's clean, simple, and elegant. I love adding pops of color like the turquoise in my necklace and ring, and some gold bracelets. You can never go wrong with white and gold.

NAVY OFF THE SHOULDER DRESS | SUNGLASSES | GOLD INITIAL NECKLACE

This lace off the shoulder dress is the perfect little blue dress for summer, and it's currently $50! It's easy to wear to the beach because it's light weight, which I love, but can just as easily be worn throughout the day.

WHITE TOP | SIMILAR TURQUOISE NECKLACE | PHONE CASE (SOLD OUT) SIMILAR HERE | LIPSTICK

Another white top that I absolutely love! The crochet detail is so pretty and feminine. It would so be easy to add this top to some jeans during the day, but it would also work with a cute knit midi skirt to dress it up for date night or a girls night out.

WHITE DRESS | SIMILAR TURQUOISE NECKLACE | PHONE CASE (SOLD OUT) SIMILAR HERE

This dress is so perfect. It's the perfect length (I ordered a large so that it would come to my knees), and it has really pretty details in the sleeves. It will be one of those dresses you want to wear everywhere! It's light weight, which is perfect for hot summer days, and currently on sale under $40 with 25% off if you order online!

TOP 10 SPOTS TO VISIT WITH KIDS THIS SUMMER IN LOS ANGELES

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 11:00:00 +0000

It's official! Both of the boys are done with school for this year, and summer has begun! I always have a little mixed feelings when it comes to summer break with the kids. Part of me is excited to sleep in a bit and have lazy mornings at home, and part of me thinks "what the HECK am I going to do to entertain them for 6 weeks?!"

In order to keep us all from going stir crazy, I wrote down a list of some of our favorite spots to take the kids in LA during the summer. These are places that would make perfect play dates with your friends and their kiddos too! They are all kid friendly and budget friendly, and most of them are inside, away from the beating summer sun. Sound amazing? They are. I've listed them all at the bottom of this post (along with a few new ones on our list that I want to check out).

No matter where we go, I always love dressing my boys in clothing from Old Navy. They always have the best selection of boys clothes, and their prices are so affordable. I can just let the kids play and enjoy our outings without stressing that they will ruin their clothing because I didn't spend a fortune on it!

ON ME: WHITE DRESS (I sized up to a large in this for length and it hits right at my knee. It's also on sale!) | SIMILAR SANDALS | SUNGLASSES | SIMILAR HAT

ON BRADLEY: STRIPED TOP | ORANGE LINEN SHORTS | SANDALS

ON CASH: PALM TREE PRINT TOP | GREEN SHORTS | SANDALS

ON ELI: BUTTON UP PLAID TOP | OVERALLS | SANDALS

(head on over to Merrick's blog for her outfit details)

MY TOP FAVORITES:

SANTA ANITA RACE TRACK

I met up with Merrick and her 3 boys earlier this week at the Santa Anita Race Track. I went to a Breeder's Cup race there with Garrett a few years ago, and I was so excited to go back with the kids! The area is absolutely gorgeous, and the building looks like it's right out of a movie (which it is...it's where they filmed Seabiscuit). This is one of the very first times Merrick and I have gotten together for a play date with all 6 boys, and they loved running around looking at the horses.

Every morning on the weekdays they train the horses from 5am-10am, and entrance is free if you want to take the kids and come watch. They also have free general admission and free parking every Thursday and Friday during the summer to watch live horse races from 2pm-6pm. They have lots of family events happening there on Saturdays too. You can view their calendar here.

CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER

I love taking the kids here! It's located right next to USC's campus in a really fun part of LA. The museum is huge, and there is plenty for the kids to see and learn. I usually plan on spending most of the day here. One of the levels has a giant aquarium that you can walk through, and the boys love it! Admission to the Science Center is FREE and parking is $12 (CASH ONLY!). It also houses the Spaceship The Endeavor. You have to buy a separate ticket to see the space shuttle, but I definitely think it's worth paying to see it on your first trip. It's incredible! You can read more about this museum here.

*note: There are other museums that you get access to after you pay to park, but most of those cost around $15 per person. This one is just as good and free!

LA ARBORETUM & BOTANIC GARDEN

This giant beautiful arboretum is located right across the street from the race track in Santa Anita (just down the street from Pasadena). Adults are $9, kids 5-12 are $4, and under 5 are free. They have acres and acres of gardens (about 9 different kinds), a giant lake with fish and ducks, and peacocks that roam around. This does require lots of walking, which is great for tiring out kids with lots of energy! They have lots of kid-centered activities going on. They also have an amazing night concert series with performances by bands and symphonies.

LACY PARK

This park might be my favorite of all time. I love taking the kids here! Merrick and I stopped here for a few hours to feed the kids lunch and let them ride scooters after visiting the race track. It's located in San Marino, home to the most beautiful mansions in the world, so the drive there is enough to make it worth your time. The park is huge, with a giant running track surrounded by palm trees, with a giant grassy field and baseball field in the middle. It's a great place to go running, because there is plenty of room on the track for kids to ride bikes or push a stroller. The play structure was just redone and is really fun. They do charge a little on the weekends, so keep that in mind.

THE LAST BOOKSTORE

The coolest bookstore you will ever see. Stories of cool books for sale, with rooms full of books all the same color, a tunnel made out of books, and a section of really really old books to look through. It's kind of like a book museum. It's free and right in the heart of Downtown LA.

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

TRAVEL TOWN

When my boys were a little younger and obsessed with trains, this place was heaven for them! The entrance and parking is free, and there are tons of old trains for the boys to walk through and explore. They have a small air conditioned museum, and you can buy a ticket to go for a ride on a mini train around the park. Super cute!

LA ZOO

Cute smaller zoo, right next to Travel Town.

PARK CONCERTS AT THE LEVITT PAVILION

Free concerts in the park at a darling location in the heart of Pasadena.

KIDSPACE

Right next to the Rose Bowl, and indoor/outdoor kids museum.

ON MY LIST TO VISIT THIS SUMMER:

THE BROAD MUSEUM

This museum looks amazing! It's free, but there is a waitlist to get tickets. I'm putting my name on the list in hope that we can get some tickets this summer.

LACMA MUSEUM

This is the museum with the section of hundreds of darling light posts you see all over instagram. I've always wanted to check it out, and this summer it's on my list!

LA CENTRAL LIBRARY

The outside of this library looks incredible! I've heard it's huge and fun to explore with kids. Right in downtown LA.

Make sure you pin this one for your next trip to California. Now hop on over to Merrick's blog today, she is sharing all her favorite kid friendly spots in Orange County!

in partnership with Old Navy | photography by Kendra Maarse

THE FAUX-WRAP DRESS TUTORIAL

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 11:00:00 +0000

WRAP DRESS MADE BY ME (TUTORIAL BELOW) SIMILAR DRESS HERE AND HERE | SUNGLASSES | GOLD INITIAL NECKLACE | SIMILAR TURQUOISE RING

photography by Kenna Reed

I made this dress a few months ago and instagramed it when I wore it to one of the parties during the Reward Style Conference I attended. The dress code for the party was resort style, and I knew we had our Hawaii trip coming up in a few weeks, so I figured I would make a dress that I could wear to both places! This dress is easy and fun to wear. I thought about making it an actual wrap dress, but thinking about trying to keep it tied as I hold Eli and move around on the beach made me decide to do an elastic waistband instead. I'm so glad I did! It was easier to make and much easier to wear.

The dress was great for Hawaii because it worked as a beach cover-up, or as a dress for dinner. When it got wet in the ocean it dried quickly, and the light fabric kept me cool. I had this fabric in my stash forever (what's new..haha!) and I'm so glad I finally found the right occasion to use it!

You can shop some similar dresses below...

If you would like to make this dress but don't know how to sew, make sure you check out my online sewing course at moderngirlsewing.com. We will be having our summer sale starting next week, so it's the perfect time to grab a course! We announced the dates and details of the sale over on our Modern Girl Sewing instagram, so make sure you follow along there so you don't miss out on any of our sales!

CLICK THE LINK BELOW FOR THE FULL TUTORIAL..

Materials:

3 yards of lightweight chiffon fabric
3 yards of lightweight liner fabric (optional)
1/4" wide elastic
matching thread

*I listed all of my pattern piece measurements for reference, but here is a simple guide for cutting out your pieces:

BACK width = 1 1/2" x your actual back width
FRONT width = actual front width + 2" (apply this to both front sides)
SKITH length = measurement from your natural length to the floor, + 1" for s.a.
ELASTIC = measure around your waist so it pulls taught but not too tight

Step 1:
Finish all raw edges of the 2 FRONT pieces. Fold back the diagonal side 2", press, and stitch in place at the top and bottom. Repeat this for both pieces.

Step 2:
Finish all raw edges of the BACK piece. With right sides together, lay the one of the FRONT pieces on top of the BACK piece and stitch along the shoulder seams and under the arms. Lay the second FRONT piece on top overlapping and also attach at the shoulder seams and under the arms.

Step 3:
Stitch around the bottom of the FRONT pieces, securing them in place.

Step 4:
Fold and press your CUFFS lengthwise, stitch up widthwise so they create a circle, and attach them to your arm holes.

Step 5:
Wrap your SKIRT around so that the front overlaps and that it is the same circumference as your bodice. This will be larger than your natural waist measurement until you add the elastic. Turn your bodice inside out and upside down and slide the skirt through your bodice. Stitch all around connecting your bodice and skirt with a 1/2" s.a.

Step 6:
Stitch your elastic onto the waist from the inside of the dress. Sew right along the same line of stitching around the waist that you just sewed, and pull your elastic as you sew so that it stretches all the way around the waist. Hem the bottom with a 1/4" s.a. and hem any remaining raw edges.

INSTAGRAM ROUNDUP

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Barlow) — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 11:00:00 +0000

DRESS MADE BY ME SIMILAR HERE + HERE + HERE | GLADIATOR SANDALS | STRIPED STRAW TOTE BAG

Off the shoulder tops and dresses are making a huge appearance lately, and I love how easy they are to throw on for a casual beach day look. Stay tuned for a tutorial on how to make the one I'm wearing. I'm so excited to share all the details just in time for summer. I'll be posting it on the blog soon! I did find some almost identical versions of my dress though, so I linked to those below in case you can't wait for the tutorial ;)

GINGHAM TOP MADE BY ME (TUTORIAL HERE) SIMILAR TOP HERE AND HERE | WHITE SHORTS | COGNAC SANDALS | STRIPED STRAW TOTE BAG

Another off the shoulder look I couldn't resist. And gingham.. It's a win-win. I love how this top turned out. In case you missed my post on how to make it yourself, you can find the full tutorial here. And this bag is so easy to grab and go for strolling around the beach, or just running errands this summer. The orange in it is the perfect color compliment to the navy gingham, plus I love that it has the cognac color from my sandals in the strap.

White and denim are always a good idea in the summer. My wedges and jean jacket add just a touch of contrast to my all white look. But I love that the details in my eyelet top are still the focus, making the top stand out just enough, even over white pants.

You can't go wrong with a red, white, and blue look. It's classic, simple, and easy to throw together for casual summer days. Running around with the boys this summer, I know I'll be throwing on my hat tons. It's the easiest way to get up and go while still looking cute and put together.

HELLO SUMMER

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 11:00:00 +0000

SWIMSUIT TOP AND BOTTOMS VIA MODCLOTH | FLAMINGO | SUNGLASSES (SOLD OUT, SIMILAR COLOR AND STYLE)

Yesterday was Bradley's last official day of kindergarten, and that means that summer is here in the Barlow house! It certainly felt like summer. We baked in the 90 degree sun at the park after school! Poor B was really sad for the year to come to an end. He loves school and loves getting to be with his friends.

This weekend I am going to put together a summer bucket list with the boys and write down everything we want to do while school is out. I really want to try to get out to the beach a few times a month. We loved spending so much time on the beach while we were in Hawaii, and the boys love it.

I wore this suit from ModCloth while we were in Hawaii last week, and I love it! I saw the suit in person about a month ago, and I couldn't get it out of my head. When we booked our trip for Hawaii I knew that was one that needed to come with me. The pink and chartreuse are so cute and vibrant, and it is one of the most flattering high-waisted suits I've ever tried on. ModCloth makes so many really cute unique suits. I was pouring through all of their swim options and saw so many cute suits I had never seen before (like this one and this one). And I just couldn't resist bringing along this blow up flamingo. Even though Garrett rolled his eyes at me, it was so fun to float around on at the beach. We made quite the spectacle on our way down to the ocean, but we had the cutest flotation device in all the land, so we didn't care. ModCloth also had this cute watermelon float that I almost got instead!

Happy summer!

in partnership with Modcloth

SUMMERTIME CLASSIC

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 11:00:00 +0000

STRIPED SUIT | WATCH c/o DANIEL WELLINGTON (GET 15% OFF WIDH CODE BARLOW) | LAZERCUT SUN HAT (on sale for $12!) | ROUND BEACH TOWEL

While bright colors are always so fun and playful for summer, I have a soft spot in my heart for a classic pairing of black and white. This striped suit has the cutest big bow across the front! The simple clean chic design of my Daniel Wellington watch is also a great summer classic. I have had this watch for a few years now, and recently added this new style to my list of favorite watches.

Daniel Wellington watches are beautifully made. The design is clean and not fussy, which makes them super versatile. Most of the watches are unisex (Garrett wears my black watch almost as much as I do). Right now you can get 15% off any watch with code: BARLOW. These would make for a great Father's Day gift (and you might be able to get some use out of it too)!

in collaboration with Daniel Wellington

THE OFF THE SHOULDER TASSLE TOP TUTORIAL

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 11:00:00 +0000

I've been wanting to make an off the shoulder top for a few months now, and I thought it would be perfect to take on our vacation to Hawaii last week! You might have seen a little sneak peek of this over on my Instagram a few days ago. I love this tutorial because it really is just a few rectangles sewn together ;) Adding the trim is a fun touch that adds visual interest to the cut ruffles along the top. And the gingham pattern is perfect for summer! Check out the full tutorial below!

GET THE FULL TUTORIAL FOR THIS TOP AFTER THE JUMP BELOW..

Materials:

2 yards of fabric (I used a light weight cotton)
2 yards of trim
1 1/2 yards of 1/2" elastic
matching thread

STEP 1:

Cut out 2 rectangles of fabric that measure about 1 1/2 x your chest width, and 20 1/2" long (add 1-3" if you have a longer torso). Cut out small arm holes (keep in mind these can be very short holes, since the top will hit you a few inched underneath your armpit).

STEP 2:

Lay your 2 bodice pieces Rt sides together and stitch up either side with 1/2" seam allowance (sa).

STEP 3:

Open your bodice and serge around the armpit opening, then fold under 1/4", press, and stitch.

STEP 4:

Cut your 2 strips of fabric 15" wider than your bodice pieces, place them rs togther, and stitch up the sides with 1/2" sa.

STEP 5:

Serge around the bottom of your stitched together strips of fabric, fold under 1/4", pin your trim along the edge and stitch.

STEP 6:

Fold the top of your long strip over 1" and stitch all around leaving a 2" opening.

STEP 7:

STEP 8:

SUMMER SWIMSUIT TREND FAVORITES

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Tue, 31 May 2016 11:00:00 +0000

FLORAL SWIMSUIT (SIMILAR SUIT HERE AND HERE, SAME PRINT SUIT HERE AND HERE) | STRIPED STRAW BAG | GOLD GLADIATOR SANDALS | SIMILAR SUNGLASSES

There are so many good swimsuit trends this year! When I was shopping for suits for our vacation, I kept my eye out mostly for suits that I would feel comfortable chasing around my kids in. I was blown away by the selection of once piece suits at Nordstrom that were right on trend for this season.

I picked out my favorites in each of the top trends for this year- floral, Americana, cutouts, and crochet...

FLORAL

AMERICANA

This is such a cute trend, especially with the Fourth of July right around the corner. The full American flag suit is bold, which I sometimes shy away from, but I love this one! I also rounded up a little more understated Americana suits that are darling.

CUTOUTS

I love cutouts in one pieces! It keeps the suit fun and gives it a little personality.

CROCHET

The visual interest of crochet suits is so pretty and delicate. Since they can be a bit busy, I usually stick to black or white crochet suits.

Shop my look here:

Don't forget the Nordstrom sale is still going strong! You can shop all my favorites in this post.

in partnership with Nordstrom

INSTAGRAM ROUNDUP + MEMORIAL DAY SALES

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Barlow) — Sat, 28 May 2016 11:00:00 +0000

Happy Memorial Day Weekend everyone! Don't forget that the Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale is still going on now through June 5th! In case you missed it, I put together a big roundup of my favorite items from the sale here. I broke it down into categories, so it's easy to shop the things I'm loving right from the post. I've also rounded up all the best Memorial Day sales at the bottom of this post, and some of my favorites like Asos, J. Crew, Anthropologie, Old Navy, and Ann Taylor are having some amazing sales!

If you follow along with me on Instagram, you know I've been in Hawaii this past week. I've gotten a lot of questions about the suits I've worn, and I haven't been able to answer everyone's questions while I've been gone, so I figured I would link to them all here and try to answer some of the questions that I've gotten!

SWIMSUIT | SUNGLASSES | SANDALS

This suit is the most adorable print! I tend to stick to solid color suits, but this print was too pretty to pass up. It goes low in the front, but the laceup in the middle keeps it from being too low. This also has a decent amount of support, unlike a lot of suits with this cut.

SWIMSUIT (I wear size 6) | SUNGLASSES | NECKLACE

Another pattern I fell in love with was this suit! It's just gorgeous. And the chicest tropical print I've ever seen. It isn't too loud and obnoxious. I would say this is the most comfortable suit I wore in Hawaii. The fabric quality is amazing. It's super soft and the torso is really long, which is hard to find. And there is amazing support in the bust. I also love the cut out in the middle. Cutouts are huge this season.

SWIMSUIT (I wear size 6) | SUNGLASSES | LIPSTICK (in 'Claudia')

I don't think I could pick a favorite suit, but if I had to....it might be this one. Soft, durable fabric, and the color is amazing. Even more beautiful in person. The torso is long on this one, and the crochet detailing is sexy without being too revealing.

SWIMSUIT (I wear size 32 C/D) | SUNGLASSES | BABY ONESIE | BABY FEDORA

Such a beautiful floral print on this one. Ted Baker always gets florals right. And there is incredible support in the bust, since they are harder formed cups. The torso is a bit shorter on this one than a few of my others, but there is a tie in the back that helps keep the top up and secure.

SWIMSUIT (I wear a medium) | WATCH | HAT

I can't even with this suit. A bow and stripes? Come on. It's so amazing. Long torso, and the bow is so cute in person. I like to wear the removable straps with this one when I'm going to be walking around a lot to help hold the bow up, but that wasn't a deal breaker for me.

SWIMSUIT TOP + BOTTOMS (both in a small) | SUNGLASSES | SIMILAR SANDALS | BABY ONESIE SUIT

To be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of high waisted suits, but this one was way more flattering than any other one I've tried on! The top provides a good amount of coverage and support, and the color of the suit is so pretty and vibrant.

SWIMSUIT (I wear a small/D) | SUNGLASSES | GOLD CUFF BRACELET | TASSEL BRACELET | LINK BRACELET

This is my favorite deep V suit I've ever worn. The support it offers is amazing! It provides padding in all the right places, and I felt so comfortable in it. The back is also cut really low with a cute bow, and I love it! Fantastic quality.

Have you gotten a chance to shop the Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale yet? Here are some of my favorite pieces at amazing prices...

My favorite Vince Camuto lilac top (worn in this post) is on sale. It's one of my absolute favorites, and it's so easy to dress up or down.
My favorite Kate Spade shoulder bag sold out fast, but I love this Kate Spade crossbody, and this crossbody in white.
Brown leather sandals are so in right now, and this pair adds a touch of gladiator, which I love. These ones are simple, and perfect for everyday wear.
These black distressed jeans sold out way too fast, but I found some other pants that I loved. These Joe's are a great pair of distressed jeans, and these flares are really flattering.

I've also put together a list of the Memorial Day sales going on this weekend at some of my favorites stores. All the sale details are listed below. I hope everyone has a nice relaxing weekend!

Memorial Day Weekend Sales:

Asos
Extra 20%
Use Code: HISUMMER
Dates: Now - 5/30

J. Crew
30% off your purchase
Use Code: WEEKEND
Dates: Now - 5/31

Anthropologie
Additional 30% off all sale items, online and in store
Dates: 5/26 - 5/30

Ann Taylor
50% off full-price purchase + extra 40% off sale styles
Use Code: SUMMER50
Dates: 5/26 - 5/31

Banana Republic
40% off purchase
Use Code: BRTAKE40
Dates: Now - 5/30

Free People
Extra 25% off all sale items
Dates: Now - 5/30

Joe's Jeans
25% off the entire site
Dates: Now - 5/30

Loft
60% off summer faves and all sale styles + 40% off new arrivals
Dates: Now - 5/31

Macy's
Extra 20% + free shipping at $50
Use Code: MEMDAY
Dates: Now - 5/30

Old Navy
Extra 50% off all tees, tanks, swim, and shorts
Dates: Now - 6/3

Pottery Barn
Extra 25% off
Use Code: SAVEMORE
Dates: Now - 5/30

Vince Camuto
Extra 30% off sale and clearance
Use Code: SALE30
Dates: Now - 5/30

MY NORDSTROM HALF YEARLY SALE PICKS

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Barlow) — Thu, 26 May 2016 00:18:00 +0000

ONE / TWO / THREE / FOUR / FIVE / SIX / SEVEN / EIGHT / NINE / TEN / ELEVEN / TWELVE / THIRTEEN / FOURTEEN / FIFTEEN

The Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale is going on now through June 5th! I went through and picked out my favorite items and put them below in categories so they're easy to shop straight from this post. I was actually surprised at how fast items are selling out! A lot of things only had a few sizes left, only a few hours after the sale started. So don't wait if you love something because chances are it won't be there when you come back for it later!

Overall, I think this sale has a lot of really great practical items that will work for both Spring and Summer. If you're like me, you can appreciate the value of quality basics that work with multiple outfits, like this top that comes in a few different colors, and this flowy top that is so comfy and flattering. There are lots of cute sandals and flats too. I love these wrap sandals, and these studded flats. And don't miss out on some really cute bags, like this Rebecca Minkoff tote in grey. Have fun shopping, and let me know what you guys find out there!

You can shop more of my favorites from each department below..

MY FAVORITE: BAGS

MY FAVORITE: SHOES

MY FAVORITE: ACCESSORIES

MY FAVORITE: TOPS

MY FAVORITE: JEANS

MY FAVORITE: JACKETS

TUESDAY OUTFIT INSPIRATION

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne) — Tue, 24 May 2016 11:00:00 +0000

Happy Tuesday everyone! I love how simple, yet elegant this look is. This amazing blue eyelet top is so feminine with the prettiest details. The light blue almost looks white, so it works perfectly with these white pants and pale blue wedges. I threw in some pretty bright pops of color with this adorable bag and turquoise ring. I went with NARS lipstick in the color 'Catherine,' which is an orangey pink that ties in really well with the pale blues. I kept the earrings distinctive and white, so that they weren't taking away from the rest of the pieces. And I always love a simple gold watch. Tie it all together with this perfume, which smells amazing and lasts all day, and you're set.

You can shop all of these outfit details by clicking through the links below or by item name above. Have a great rest of your day, and remember to check back here Thursday for all my Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale finds!