The weather has been so mild in the morning lately! Thanks to the fog, which has been hovering over the Santa Cruz Mountains overnight and clears just in time for the day to start. This type of weather allows me to wear jeans; and definitely calls for layers!
I wore this outfit the other day to meet up with my friend Dawn from Fashion Should be Fun at Santana Row. It was perfect because the layers allowed me to peel back the kimono and just wear the tee as the day wore on. If you live in the Bay Area, or any area near the ocean, you may be accustomed to micro-climates. These micro-climates demand we dress in layers! Without layers, our clothing will either be to hot, or too cold. Layers allow us to stay comfortable all day! Love that!
Did you notice these major hoop earrings! I need to give a shout-out to Sheila Fajl. Her jewelry is so beautiful! These hoop earrings are a fabulous closet staple, and they are lightweight! I love comfortable earrings with style; and these hit all the buttons! They also happen to be 18K gold plate. Love that! You can find her jewelry collection on her website.
Kimonos, denim shirts or jackets, and wraps, are key during the summer months to stay comfortable. How do you layer up when your temperatures fluctuate during the day?
Summer is in full swing! To celebrate the freedom of summer vacation, I took my kids out for dim sum during the week at Sino Santana Row. They have such good dim sum! My kids are finally at an age where they are trying more varieties of foods, so it was really fun to just order a bunch of dim sum for the table and see what they would eat. All three of them were really good about tasting everything, and they even found some new foods to love! Yay!
On our way to eat dim sum, my ten-year-old daughter and nine-year-old son took turns snapping pictures of my outfit. They are getting pretty good with the DSLR! My ten-year-old starts sixth grade in the fall, and her elective is going to be photography. I’m so excited she enjoys it. She is really creative, so it is fun to see her explore all avenues of art. She is already a fabulous painter, and she also loves to design clothing. I can’t wait to see how she interprets nature and people through the glass lens.
This outfit was perfect for the moderate summer day when we ate out last week. The blouse is nice and breezy, and the wide leg jeans offer a breezy silhouette too; so I didn’t get hot! Love! I’m looking forward to wearing this blouse often during the summer months. The rainbow pom pom details are so cute, and it will look nice with cut-offs on hot days too.
Beach season is here! Can I get a “heck yeah!” As my kids get older, I can finally get excited about beach season again. I no longer need to lug around a truckload of baby gear, diapers, and more. Now that my kids are all school-age, with one being a teen, they are self-sufficient at the beach. They even carry their own gear! Pinch me, I must be dreaming!
Since I am back in the “traveling light” camp, I can go to the beach with my bare essentials. If you are transitioning from little kids with lots of gear, to the one bag, lightweight stage, then this might help you decide what to pack in your Mom beach bag too. These are my essentials for a beach day with my kids; who carry their own gear. Yes!
Beach tote: A fabulous beach tote is essential to traveling light. The tote needs to be large enough to carry everything, without being overly bulky. I love this one from Boutique Mexico. It is the perfect size.
Espadrilles: If you have tried wearing shoes on the beach before, then you know shoes have no place on the beach; and don’t even think about wearing flip-flops, they flip off! The only shoes which work on the sand are espadrilles. I always have a flat pair to wear on the beach. You can protect your feet from hot sand, or trash left behind by annoying people, with a good pair of espadrilles. They are also easy to shake out after your beach day is done.
A good book: Older kids can entertain themselves. Therefore, you can relax! A good book is a great way to relax while your kids build a sand castle. If you are reading a book with your kids at the beach, just make sure you can still see your kids. The last thing you want is for one of them to decide the ocean looks like a swimming pool and start running out of your sight. Always be ready to intervene.
Portable phone charger: The beach offers a lot of photo ops, and if your kids are like my kids, they like to take videos of their sand castles, and of each other. Always carry a back-up battery for your phone.
Striped swimwear: Striped swimsuits are hotter then hot this season. You want to be the most fashionable mom on the beach right? Then it is settled! You must wear a striped suit! I’m living in this bikini for summer, but here are a few more striped swimsuit options you might love:
Body butter: The sun, the salt sea, and chlorine from the pool; these are all causes of dry, summer skin. I combat summer skin with LaVanila Body Butter. It works like a charm! See my full review here.
Sunscreen lip balm: Your lips need sunscreen too. I can’t live without this one.
Neutrogena sunscreen: This is a fabulous, non-greasy sunscreen. I love it for both myself and my kids.
Sunglasses: No beach trip is complete without a fabulous pair of sunglasses which not only protect your eyes from harsh rays, they show the world that the beach is your runway. Twirl girl!
A fabulous sun hat: Your Giants cap is for baseball games, the beach is for dramatic sun hats! Wear something fabulous, you deserve it; especially since your daughter might try to bury your son in the sand again. Oh snap! Why not look fabulous while scolding your children? Twirl again!
That’s it! That’s all your really need in addition to a small first aid kit, water, and snacks. What are some things you like to ensure are in your beach bag this summer?
Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy the beach!
XOXO
Cathy
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