Friday Favorites: Workout Wear

TGIF! Gals, I've had such a good week, now that I mention it I feel like I share that sentiment with you every Friday. The truth is, Life is so Good and I'm grateful for it! #amen

Grandma came to visit, we learned at the library, played at the park, the splash pad and outside at home.  To top it all off, Mr and I celebrated 9 years of marriage yesterday, WAHOOOO!!! Not a day or even a few hours goes by that I don't give gratitude to God for such a loving and hardworking husband.  It's not perfect, but life together is the BEST!

Also, Vivian Louise is 18 months old today!!! How is that even possible, that my teeny tiny baby is a year and a half??! #babiesdon'tkeep

Now to the point of this post ...

It seems as though every major retailer/designer has a athletic wear line.  While I'm trying to accept that everyone wants to be comfortable, I still don't believe in ever wearing workout wear outside of actually working out! (I'll try not to preach on that too much but UGH leggings are NOT pants!)

I do believe in exercising! And I believe there is both form and function when it comes to workout wear.  Yes, I do want to feel pretty and coordinated while I sweat.  I also need these pieces to hold me in, allow my skin/sweat to breathe and to not slide around/bunch as I move.

When you do find pieces that are constructed well (strong stretch), fit your body and cute they tend to be pricey.  So, I buy a piece every now and then to spread out the cost and always shop sales.

TIP: Don't forget about Nordstrom Rack & Marshalls/TJ Maxx to find pieces at great prices.

Given that your workout wear is its own wardrobe investment, you need to take care of them.
I wash all of my pieces on the delicate cycle together with NO cotton garments, only synthetic.  I also  NEVER dry them in the dryer.  My guest bathroom turns into a drying room once a week.

I have go-to styles that I will buy multiples of because I know they do the job....

Here they are ...

The Sculpt Tank II is my all time favorite top and I have several!

The Speed Up Short 4" is my favorite for running, again I have several!

This sports bra is heavy duty but you can't compromise on support! I love that it comes in bra sizes for a great fit.

These leggings have the best waist band and don't slide down
(yanking a pair of leggings up because they don't hold their shape/poor stretch is the WORST)

These socks are a splurge but completely worth it.  For running and high impact exercises taking care of your feet is very important.

Dress Beautifully in Workout Wear

XOXO Sarah-Louise

Pink Moment

Have you ever heard the phrase 'It's as Hot as the Devil's kitchen'?? Well, that's what it feels like down here in the South during the Summer. The temperatures are high but you add humidity and a day with no breeze ... well let's just say the glow is gone and you'll be down right sweating!

I share a lot about the shape of a garment and how the silhouette and construction can accent and flatter your figure.  But just because something isn't form fitting doesn't mean it can't be complimentary. However, no one wants to strut around in a moo-moo!

To survive the Summer heat loose, easy-breezy pieces are essential!

The tiers in this dress do the trick! It has a swingy shape without making you look like you're walking around in a sack.  The tiers actually create small lines of structure adding gradual volume.  The v-neckline elongates the face and the sleeves help balance the full skirt. The fabric is so soft and light you feel like you're barely wearing anything at all.  Dress it up with some cute sandals and you're all set for any outside occasion.

It's a guarantee you'll feel perfectly pretty and cool in this delicate pink dress!

PS I dare you not to twirl around in this swingy dress :) #impossible

I adore mini bags!  They're just precious.  They don't overwhelm and it's nice not to be toting a bag full of ALL the things. I found this one at the Kate Spade outlet while we were on vacation at the beach.  I'm obsessed with the pink snake print!

Note: Most of them come with a crossbody strap you can add for convenience.

I wear these sandals all the time! With shorts, dresses and jeans they go with everything. The shiny metallic color adds a hint of fancy, while the knot bow adds a feminine touch.  They come in a higher block heel but I find these to be so much more practical for every day wear.

Pink Sundress | Rose Gold Sandals | Snake Mini Bag - Similar & Here | Earrings |

Dress Beautifully in Pink

XOXO Sarah Louise

Mamma Monday: Splish Splash

We have decided to splash our way through Summer.  It's 100% true that children LOVE water so water is what we will play in!

Here are some ways to incorporate water into your summer ...
(but not before you sunscreen)

This past Friday Vivian Louise went to a splash pad for the very first time.  She played her mermaid heart out!!!

Charlotte has tons of splash pads at public parks, private pools and at several YMCAs.

6 months old

Nearly 6 months old

Pools are so much fun and super cool, literally, and almost a necessity to survive the heat! We are lucky that we have several around us (and friends with pools) to take advantage of and our gym even has an indoor zero entry pool with play area for us to play in and avoid the harmful sun.

8 months old

You can even go fun-size and put a pool in your back yard, most preferably in a shady spot for easy splashing. I'm thinking of getting her this kiddie pool or this bigger one (because she's going to want me to splash with her whether I want to or not).

Water tables are fun too.  I'm not going to invest in one as I like to keep her toys at a minimum (and we are not having any more children) But I like this one!


You can even go super classic and turn on the sprinklers and let them run through it over and over again!

And if your kiddos are older, there's no fun like slip n' slide fun!

Fashion note: I love these sandals to wear at the pool/splash pad!

Dress Beautifully While Splashing this Summer!

XOXO Sarah Louise

Summer List

Since I was a little girl my Mamma always sat down with us and we created our 'Summer List' of all the places we wanted to go and things we want to do/accomplish.  She was set firm that we were not going to sit idle during the Summers and I'm eternally grateful she didn't let us.

Life is a priceless gift not to be wasted but to be cherished and enjoyed.  In my 20's & early 30's I really came to appreciate the gift of Summers because I didn't have much free time outside of the office. And now that I have Vivian Louise, I'm going to make the 18 Summers with her count.
I'm not sure how much longer I will be home with her so I'm going to give her my very best this year.

This list is not one of  'To-Do' but more a list of goals and experiences.  Summer is a great time to refresh, slow down and to delight in the things that bring you joy.

I plan to do a lot of my reading right here in our backyard laying in our hammock

I've been teaching Sunday school for middle schoolers (bless my heart) for several years now and I've passed this tradition on to them and surprisingly they have loved making their goals and have been quiet creative.  The perimeters were to have a spiritual, physical and learning goal.  I also participated.  They could add however many other things they wanted. I chose those 3 because our relationship with God is #1 in life and it can be challenging for them during the school year to add daily growth/study outside of Sundays and for me during the Summer with the absence of a weekly bible study. The physical goal is to keep them moving. Taking care of your body, staying strong and healthy is of upmost importance!! The learning goal is super fun, they really stretched their imaginations and I saw their talents and interests come to life. Trying new things is exciting and stretches us, opening up so much opportunity.

My brave little girl

Labor Day is the day for reaching our goals, a total of about 10 weeks and we will check in with each other in July.

I encourage you to make your own Summer List and to share with me what you chose and how it worked out :)

Dress Beautifully while Enjoying Your Summer

XOXO Sarah-Louise

Summer Blaze

Summer can feel as hot as blazes! But just like I shared with you last week about dressing up a pair of shorts here on this post, you can still stay cool and look chic.

Shorts by nature are casual so when you contrast with dressier tops you create a nice modern balance.

Blazers can often convey a heavier, and sometimes stuffy vibe.  But in lighter fabrics and colors they won't weigh you down but simply add structure and shape to your body/outfit. Not all blazers are created equal, the key is in the details.  Functional cuff buttons allow you to roll up the sleeves for a more relaxed look.

Keep your underpinning loose and airy such as a camisole or cotton tee.  You can showcase even more of your personality with a graphic tee.

Same goes for shorts.  If you're more of a preppy gal opt for colored, printed or striped shorts, if you're more casual/sporty opt for distressed denim and if you are on the classic side of style choose a high waist short in a neutral shade.

Accessorizing with dainty gold jewelry adds just the right sprinkle of shine and doesn't overwhelm the overall look.

Mixing super casual pieces with dressier pieces not only allows for versatility of your wardrobe but presents a modern style that's worth admiration.

Blazer | Cami | Shorts | Pumps | Earrings | Layered Necklaces |

Dress Beautifully in a Blazer & Shorts

XOXO Sarah Louise

Mamma Monday: Biblical Toys

Good Morning Mammas! Playing with toys and learning new things are the fun parts of motherhood. They are the things I enjoy most with Vivian Louise (right next to nap time! #truth).
Colors, shapes, animals and numbers are so important but what's even more important is for her to learn the word of God! #amen Now, I do realize she's 17 months old but I promise it's never too early to share the gospel with your littles. Taking them to church is great start.  It shows them that they are blessed with the privilege of worshipping freely and what it means to fellowship and minister.

When you teach your children about God through His word you're laying the foundation for them to build their own relationship with God.  It helps build in them character traits such as compassion, generosity, love, joy, patience, and sooooo many more!  These are all things they need in life and especially when playing with other children.

Toys, books and songs are fun ways to share the stories and lessons God has given us.
I promise you will also be encouraged by sharing the gospel with your littles!

When searching for biblical toys there are a plethora of Noah's ark sets. nativity sets and books. But there's so much more than just those 2 stories.  So I've gathered what I could as time allowed and hope this helps you add some encouraging and fun pieces to your playroom!

Our Noah's ark soft play bag - More options Here & Here & Here

Our soft first Bible - We received this one from our church at her dedication  - This book of prayers was a gift from a dear gal pal on her first birthday More books Here - Here - I love this one

Nativity Sets Here - Here - Here - Here

More play sets Here

We have this Song Book and she sings and dances to it all the time!

Dress Your Little's Heart Beautifully with Fun Biblical Toys

XOXO Sarah-Louise

Summer Skin

Just in case you didn't know, your skin is your largest organ which means it's health should definitely be a priority to you. I often feel as though it's taken for granted and forgotten about when it comes to it's care. We know to exercise to keep our heart and muscles strong, to avoid harmful substances for our liver & lungs and to eat healthy, drink water and sleep to nourish all our organs.

When it comes to our skin I believe aesthetics often trump health. We enhance it's beauty with makeup and fill it with creams, serums and injectables in efforts to preserve it's youth.
But let me tell you the most important thing you can do for your skin ... Sunscreen!!!

All the creams and chemicals can't save you from sun damage.  And nothing is more damaging on your skin than the sun.
Don't stop slathering your creams, serums or plumping your wrinkles with a little Botox but the #1 anti-aging treatment is sunscreen.
Reminder: Your face does not stop at your chin, you MUST include your neck and chest!!!

I'm never ever going to tell you to avoid the sun, because I believe outdoor time is the best way to live but just as your skin protects your body, protect your skin with sunscreen.

Facts:
100% proven fact the Sun causes Skin Cancer
SPF = % of UV rays blocked
Makeup with SPF is not concentrated enough to protect your skin

SPF 30 blocks 97% of UV rays so anything higher is negligible.  The key is to reapply.
Anything below SPF 30 is not protecting your skin.

There are 2 types of sunscreens, Chemical and Physical:
Chemical active ingredients are Octinoxate, Avobenzone, Oxybenzone
Physical active ingredients are Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide

Physical sunscreens are a shield and reflect rays.  They are typically a thick white cream that can be more difficult to apply and leave a white film. Despite this I prefer them, at least for my face and for baby girl.

Chemical sunscreens absorb the rays and convert them to heat. There is no study saying that they are harmful or less effective. They make great sprays which are easier to apply so I use those for my body.

Confession: My glow-in-the-dark freckly self used to attempt to bronze myself for hours underneath the sun unprotected while I was in college. I know, I know, one of the biggest mistakes I've made but I know better now and I act better.

So just say no to wrinkles and cancer and yes to sunscreen!

Also, say no to tan lines because they're positivity TACKY!

Here are some good ones to use:

A gal pal recommended Blue Lizard to me because she loves it!  It's made of natural ingredients and they're an environmentally friendly!!  They have an amazing kid and baby line of products.

Neutrogena makes great products that are free of icky chemicals - here are some for you and your littles. These are what I use.

Sun Bum has a great line of mineral based sunscreens

Supergoop also has a mission to prevent skin cancer with their line of SPF mineral products.

Cotz is a brand I recently discovered and used their face sunscreen when we were at the beach last week.  They are free from chemicals and have a great tinted line to avoid the 'white' look.

BeautyCounter is another brand of products that's all the rage.  I haven't tried any yet but from what I hear this particular sunscreen is hydrating and smells amazing.

PS Don't forget to add a hat for extra shade!

Dress Beautifully in Sunscreen

XOXO Sarah-Louise