Happy Labor Day! I hope everyone is enjoying a long weekend and relaxing with loved ones. Labor Day weekend calls for the end of summer and it wouldn’t be complete without some major sales!! There is still time to shop and I found some great sites offering fantastic discounts. See my favorite picks below.
From sunglasses, to dresses and even pillows the neon trend has been going strong all summer long. In shades such as pink, blue, yellow and green it has no signs of slowing down. I even noticed Victoria Beckham’s line with neon pink sweaters for fall. So what is the right way to wear a bold trend like this? I’m not a fan of throwing my style to the wind and adapting to a new trend to fill my closet. We all know there are many that will not work and they always come and go. Take the 90’s trend for instance, I know I will never look good in that crop top. So you have to pick and choose how you make the trend adapt to your style. If you don’t feel comfortable wearing a full neon dress, just add some neon to your accessories such as earrings or a bag.
I always love finding on trend pieces for bargain prices, so that I won’t be upset if it goes out of style by next summer. I snagged this dress from Target for under $30! Have you tried neon this summer?
This past April I got to take a fun trip down to New Orleans, and it is finally making it to the blog. New Orleans is known for Mardi Gras and Bourbon street but it is also rich in history, cuisine and culture. I was able to take Willow with me and there is tons of kid-friendly places to help entertain little ones as well. We stayed in the heart of the city at the Windsor Court Hotel (which I highly recommend). It is walking distance to many places including the Aquarium, bar, restaurants and the River Walk. Here are some great activities to see and do while you are in The Big Easy.
This is fun for the whole family! Grab a Trolley Car starting at the end of Canal Street and take it 7 miles to the New Orleans Museum of Art. The passes are only $1.25 (yes you heard me right). They are so sweet about accommodating strollers for the kiddos too. You get to sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.
This Aquarium is truly amazing, and you feel like you are submerged beneath the sea with their walk-through tunnels full of sharks, rays and sea turtles. They have live feeding times, with educational sessions explaining all the sea creatures in the aquarium. Willow even got to touch the sting rays!
Quick Tip: If you arrive and the line is long, sneak over to the theater and buy them there. Just a little secret to get the fun started!
The Riverwalk is located right next to the Mississippi River, and offers many activities. Including steamboat rides, a full marketplace mall for amazing shopping and many restaurants.
Quick Tip: We stopped by the Crazy Lobster for a moscow mule. The laws in New Orleans actually allow you to take your drink in a to go cup and walk around in public. The only stipulation is that it must be in a plastic glass! Enjoy!!
Beignets are a must when in The Big Easy. They are these delicious little squares of dough, that are fried and covered in powder sugar. No joke…this was my first stop when I got to New Orleans. But the real question is Cafe Du Monde or Cafe Beignet. Cafe Du Monde is a historic staple for beignets, opening its doors in 1862 and usually always has a line out the door. The other option, that is also extremely satisfying is the Cafe Beignet. They have three locations, that boast an old school diner vibe, and usually there is no line.
With concerts, live music and burlesque shows scheduled Tuesday through Saturday, you can’t go wrong with a night out at the House of Blues. It hosts some of the cities best live music performances and they even have a Gospel Bruch on Sundays!
Honestly this list could have been filled with over 100 restaurants, and activities but that wouldn’t even scratch the surface of things to do in this beautiful city! I hope this little cheat sheet helps you plan your next trip to New Orleans. Where are you traveling to this summer??
This weekend we had no set plans and I honestly can’t remember the last time that happened. It has been really lovely to wake up and go at our own pace with no set agenda ahead. I have even been to the gym twice…who am I? So while my sweet little babe is napping, I am getting ahead of some long awaiting blogging. I wanted to share this Mommy and Me look that I shot with Willow some time ago. I have posted about it several times on my Instagram, and it is finally making it’s debut. With warmer days ahead these breezy dresses are the perfect fit for spring and summer.
https://thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2017.02.04_TheChicMamas_FINAL-1783-1.jpg30002000Abby Ochsehttps://thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/TCM_Home_Logo.pngAbby Ochse2017-03-05 04:46:262017-11-08 19:50:17Mommy And Me Style: The Perfect Dresses For Spring And Summer
As a Mother we don’t always have the time to spend fussing over our hair. I mean I rock a top knot courtesy of a little dry shampoo way more often than I should! I am always on the look out for new and versatile tools that can simplify the process of getting ready since I usually have a 3 year old hanging off me for most of the day. Now before Willow, I used to use a curling wand and a straightener to achieve a wavy look and these days…ain’t nobody got time for that! I recently found a styling iron that can straighten, curl, and create waves. Who doesn’t love a hair tool that serves dual purposes and looks as sleek as the T3 SinglePass LUXE?
I must admit I was a little intimidated by using just a flat iron to create waves, but the T3 has flexible beveled plates and a contoured body to glide smoothly through hair. See my steps below on how to create carefree waves using the T3 Singlepass LUXE.
1. Allow your T3 SinglePass LUXE a minute to heat up.
2. Take a one-inch section of your hair and bring the straightener up to your roots at a 45 degree angle.
3. Wrap the section around the front of the straightener, when you get to the back pull hair through the plates and clip them together.
4. Slide straightener smoothly down hair and release to reveal the perfect wave.
5. Run your fingers through your hair to separate the waves. Set it with your favorite hair spray or texturizing spray ( I love this one from Oribe).
6. Now pat yourself on the back for creating waves with a straightener and you should probably take a picture!
https://thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2017.02.20_ChicMamas_FINAL-13-1.jpg30002000Abby Ochsehttps://thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/TCM_Home_Logo.pngAbby Ochse2017-02-28 02:56:492017-11-08 19:50:39How To Create Beachy Waves With A Straightener
This sweater from Topshop, had me at ribbon tie cuffs and powder blue. It is has a sweet and sexy fit, and it is a must have for your closet! I paired it with jeans and these amazing lace up ballet pumps.
*Remember Topshop’s US sizes are always sized down. So a size 2, actually fits like a size 0. I am wearing a size 6 here, that fits like a 4.
https://thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2016.12.23_CHICMAMAS_FINAL-40-2.jpg30002000Abby Ochsehttps://thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/TCM_Home_Logo.pngAbby Ochse2017-01-12 15:17:522017-11-08 19:51:31The Sweater You Need Right Now
Hello my loves! I’m starting off January by thanking all of you for following along on my little blogging journey. To show you my appreciation, I’ve teamed up with a great group of shops & bloggers to give 3 lucky winners a chance to win their own BioDerma gift set!
Simply enter below by completing the rafflecopter. You’ll receive 5 entries per completion. This giveaway is open to US participants only and runs until 1/15. Winner will be announced here. Good Luck!
I hope you all are having a wonderful beginning to 2017. I know that the New Year is supposed to be full of crazy resolutions, but I thought I would set some intentions instead. At times I feel like throwing around resolutions that may be easily broken can be a bit frustrating. So in choosing intentions rather than resolutions, I am making changes in my life by focusing on the process rather than the end result. Intentions make me feel like I am living each day to the fullest, and attempting to live primarily in the present. I also like to get really nerdy and pick a theme word or phrase for the year. So for 2017 my word is…. GROWTH.
I recently read an article on Chopra.com ( For The New Year, Do Something Better Than a Resolution) that stated, “by offering the universe an intention and repeating it everyday you will train your brain to adapt to a new way of thinking and you will begin to identify with a higher vision of your life”. This resonated with me so much! I also loved the articles four intentions:
I want a joyful, energetic body.
I want a loving, compassionate heart.
I want a restful, alert mind.
I want lightness of being.
I hope you all have had a wonderful start to your year! If you love the idea of intentions, repeat these four every morning while you have your coffee, before the kids wake up and you give yourself some time for you!
New Year…new stroller. How sleek does this GB Maris 3-in-1 travel systemstroller look? We have been using it non-stop, and Willow actually asks to get in it. Which is rare for a two year old right? I think she likes her new ride!
With Christmas just 32 days away, now is the perfect time to complete your holiday shopping! Cyber week has started and sales are starting even earlier this year. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday coming up no need to wake up at 3am and run to the nearest store, I have you covered! Shop straight from the comfort of your own computer because I have started compiling all the major sales and will be sharing them with you all week.
Click The Underlined Links Below To Shop The Sales That Have Already Started:
https://thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2016.11.06_TheChicMamas_FINAL-19.jpg16201080Abby Ochsehttps://thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/TCM_Home_Logo.pngAbby Ochse2016-11-23 06:36:082017-11-08 19:54:18Cyber Week Is Here: Let The Major Discounts Begin!