the newest brand you need to try: NEIWAI for activewear, loungewear and intimates.
We recently hit the court at Keswick Hall with Dr. Scholls and for the shoot, Catherine and I wanted to get some new stuff. Like, new new new. Something we hadn’t tried before! So we reached out to some friends who introduced us to NEIWAI. And wow, what a great brand. I loooooove discovering new brands. It feels like I am breathing new life into my wardrobe and adding new options to get dressed each day makes the days a little more exciting. Let’s be real, getting dressed isn’t always fun when you are rushing around with a one year old in the morning!
So new things are just that much more exciting!
ANYWAYS, a little more about NEIWAI. Think comfortable, quality pieces you want to LIVE IN that are aesthetic to boot. Basically the dream right? They have fantastic activewear, loungewear and intimates. And when I say their underwearis amazing, that is an understatement. It’s called Barely Zero for a reason. And the activewearis buttery soft. Yep, I said buttery soft. It is comparable in price to lululemon, athleta etc and I think fits even better and is more comfortable. SHOP the MOUSSE ACTIVE COLLECTION here.
AND THE PAJAMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We had a sleepover at Keswick and got to snap a few photos in our pajamas and I am purely obsessed with the photos. And the pajamas! I am wearing the Cafe Print Pajamas Shirt & Shorts and I have actually also been wearing the set out of the house, too. It is so chic. Catherine is wearing the Flower Print Classic Embroidered Pajama Top & Pants(selling fast!) and I love how the two sets look together!
SO, if you are looking to try something new and want to invest in some new pieces you’ll wear often, for a while, I urge you to give NEIWAI a shot! They gifted us these pieces, but this post was not sponsored! I just fell in love with them.
I came across this idea while scrolling instagram one day (where else), and then again and again and again when I was perusing Pinterest for first birthday photo ideas. I knew we were going to get family photos taken around Olive’s first birthday, but I also loved the idea of the simple cake and cake smash. I knew we probably couldn’t do both with the photographer, so I figured we could just do it ourselves.
I knew it probably wouldn’t look AS good as if we had them done by Halle and honestly had pretty low expectations for us, lol. But, I think they turned out pretty darn good. SO, here are a few tips if you want to do it at home yourself and save some money but create some sweet mems. (and do a test run of a cake smash before the big birthday party!)
If you have a nice camera, use it. It had been waaaay too long since I got out my “real camera.” We have the Canon G7X Mark IIthat I got a few years ago. It is compact point and shoot with wifi that is great for getting better photos than your iPhone. Like, way better photos.
Pick up a cheap cake from your local grocery store! For Olive’s birthday party, we had a fancy cake, but for the shoot, I just went to Publix and got a white cake, which cost me only $15. Order the $6 “one” cake topper from Amazon if you want, but obviously isn’t absolutely necessary.
Find a spot in your house (or porch, like we did) with lots of good, natural light! This is a standard for any photo shoot, but especially when you are trying for that “at home professional photographer” vibe. We did our on our screened porch, which was perfect.
Use some old white sheets to hang up behind and place underneath your baby! We all have that set of sheets in the linen closet that doesn’t get put on the bed anymore and you’re keeping around “just in case.” Use that! Its going to get messy. You can hit it with a steamer if you want the back to be smooth and crisp so it looks more like a studio shoot!
Get in a few photos yourself! Of course this is all about the baby, but these will be great keepsakes for the baby book or for you to look back on. I LOVE these photos of Olive and I.
TAG ME or send me the photos if you decide to do this!
3 Amazon outfits perfect for summer and the transition into fall.
Let’s be real, it can be hard to know what you’re getting from Amazon. Like, are those stock photos just photoshopped with the different colors (yes). SO, I have done some work for you and have found 3 really great pieces to get for your summer into fall transition. All 3 are comfy, lightweight, and can be layered! They would each be perfect from the hot weather, but also ideal for the transition into fall in the next couple of months.
If you follow me on instagram, you have seen these recently, but here they are all in one place with all the links you need! And if you want to see them in action via video – see this Web Story with these outfits right here.
Caracilia Short Overalls– These are my favorite amazon purchase maybe ever. They are SO CUTE. Lightweight, breathable, perfect for layering going into fall! Of course, they come in a bunch of colors. Not to mention they are super affordable and have total Free People vibes. They go great with my also-bought-on-amazon Cowboy boots.
Zeagoo Matching Short Set – This is the perfect *reach for everyday* outfit. I love a matching set because it does all the work for you. Because it has been really hot, I have been layering a tank top underneath, but moving into fall the 3/4 shirt is a perfect top. Comes in lots of colors, obvi! Might have to grab another color moving into fall. It is also nursing friendly with the button down top!
Zeagoo Shirt Dress with Belt (and pockets!) — IMO, every dress should have pockets. It seems insane not to! Especially as a mom. I need to have a pocket for pacifier, phone, etc. because I definitely don’t have a spare hand! This shirt dress is great for everything from errands to girls night and can be dressed up or down and take you from day to night! Also nursing friendly.
These are all great options to add a little something new to your wardrobe that you will wear OFTEN. Which one is your favorite? Which are you adding to cart?
If you are looking for a luxury resort getaway in Virginia, hopefully this will help you plan your trip!
This post is LONG overdue. Well, actually not that long overdue, as I only visited Keswick Hall and Primland earlier this year. But if you have been around here for a while, you know that we have been going to the Homestead for over 20 years! We were lucky enough to bring Olive along to Keswick Hall over spring break and Primland with Catherine, Kevin and Phoenix in late March. So, now I feel like I can write an extensive, knowledgeable post comparing them and letting you know which is best for what.
The Homestead
I figured I better start out with The Homestead. It is probably the most well known, as it is “America’s First Resort” and has been a household name since long before Omni added it to its’ resorts collection. We got married at the Homestead back in 2015, so it has a special place in my heart. We have been going a couple of times a year since then and I am happy to report that they have recently undergone some major renovations and it looks better than ever! I hate to say that it needed it because I am such a lover but, it needed it.
The Homestead is definitely the most family friendly option, in my opinion. From the lazy river and water slides in the summer to ice skating in the winter and Down time arcade, they have something for kids to do year-round. They have a KidsClub so you can enjoy a kid-free day or plenty of activities for the whole family to do together. Every week they put together a resort guide with activities for the whole family and there is literally always something going on!
If golf is your thing, all of these resorts have golf courses, but the Homestead was famous golfer Sam Snead’s home courses. Have you ever wondered what “falconry” was? Homestead has it. Sporting clays? They’ve got you. I would say The Homestead is the home of activities. But at the same time, they have an excellent spa. My favorite part of the spa experience is the Serenity Garden which has a natural hot spring, hot tub and pool where you can relax all day on the day of your services. Order a glass of bubbly after your massage and soak in the hot spring. There is absolutely nothing like it.
They also have multiple great dining options for the whole fam! If you want pizza and salad, they’ve got that. If you want a Prime Rib fine dining experience, they have that at Jefferson’s. We have been there during every season now and it is safe to say that each has its own charm. Christmas is absolutely magical, summer is a blast with the pools, the fall foliage is stunning and Easter felt special, too! You can’t go wrong.
Want to see The Homestead on video? I’ve got lots of Homestead Reels ::
When you pull up to Keswick, you are immediately transported away from Virginia. It looks like you are checking into a resort in Europe. Seriously. I would say this is the best spot for a romantic getaway. Olive was young enough to just do whatever we did, but I wouldn’t say there aren’t as many things for kids to do here in comparison to The Homestead and Primland. Keswick Hall is more about the luxury accommodations, Jean Georges restaurant and spa. And those things are FIVE STARS.
If you are looking to sit by the pool with a drink in hand, next to your partner, bestie, group of besties or family, this is the place. The infinity pool that looks out over the stunning golf course is unlike any other I have seen. It truly transports you out of Virginia. The rooms are luxurious, most have balconies and the views are gorgeous. To read more in depth about Keswick Hall, see this recent blog post that gives alllll the good details about Marigold by Jean-Georges and more.
We had the pleasure of going to Primland with Catherine, Kevin & Phoenix this past March! We got a FREEZING cold weekend, but that didn’t get in the way of us having an absolute blast. We stayed in the Pinnacle Cottages which were beyond stunning, had great views and honestly we could have stayed a week. (Maybe next time 😉 )
I would say that Primland is the most remote location – literally in the middle of nowhere in Southwest Virginia on a mountain. It felt GREAT to getaway. It reaaaaally felt like a getaway. It is a great destination if you like outdoor activities, golf, and of course, a great spa experience. The boys did a sporting clays round while we were there and we got to hit the spa for facials! Other activities they offer include horseback riding, kayaking, ATV adventures, hiking, and more. As I peruse the website as a refresher, I am thinking, dang, we gotta get back there in the summertime next!
The resort itself is stunning enough to just sit and relax and enjoy your surroundings and the views. All of the activities and amenities are a spectacular bonus. And the food? Delightful. Every meal we had was amazing. From room service delivery for breakfast, to lunch in the pub and Elements for dinner, we thoroughly enjoyed ever meal.
One unique gem that Primland has is an observatory (!!!!!) We didn’t get a chance to check it out because *babies* but next time we will definitely make it a priority. They do stargazing at night from the top of the observatory — which is the top of the silo you can see in the last photo. I would say the only thing missing at Primland is an outdoor pool (the spa has an indoor pool) and we heard that mighttttt be in the cards in the future! So, keep that in mind when you are planning your trip.
I am happy to answer any and all questions about our stays and about each resort if you are interested in planning a trip! Leave a comment here or slide into our instagram DMs.
OK OK, I can’t believe it has taken me this long to write this post. Oh, wait, yes I can because it takes me forever to do anything these days 🙂
I pretty much picked out the Gucci Diaper bag the second I found out we had a viable embryo. Instead of getting any new handbags for a few years, I figured I would opt for the Gucci Diaper bag instead. Afterall, you don’t really carry a purse AND a diaper bag. ( I wasn’t actually sure this would actually be the case, but it really is, I only use the diaper bag.) So, basically, the price tag seems steep for a diaper bag, but legit for a designer bag. End of statement.
As we all know, shopping on Amazon for clothes can be a doozy. So, I like to keep you guys updated periodically on my recent Amazon finds and purchases that I think are worth buying! I have a few new favorites that I think you guys will like too. These are great additions to your closet for spring and summer, trust me. And of course, none of them will break the bank. As always, tag me or send me a message if you buy something! I always like to see what you guys end up liking.
This set is SO FUN and total bonus : it has pockets! I ordered the below pants set in black so I wanted something with a pop of color and I just loveeee this pink (who am i!?). This is going to be in the summer rotation for sure.
A little photo diary and details from our stay at Charlottesville, VA Luxury Resort Keswick Hall.
To say we are lucky to have such great luxury vacation options in Virginia would be an understatement.
Having littles makes traveling a little more *complicated* so it is really nice to have options close to home where we can hop in the car and feel like we are on vacation just an hour away from our own front doors. We recently got to stay at Keswick Hall to kick off Spring Break and it was such a lovely, relaxing, time.
Located just a few miles outside of Charlottesville, surrounded by horse farms, a beautiful golf course, wineries and more, Keswick is beautiful destination. It has a boutique hotel and luxury feel all at once. On top of all of that, it is home to Marigold, a Jean-Georges restaurant which makes it a destination in and of itself.
See Video from our Stay HERE and HERE. Keep reading for more!
Life with Olive through our month milestone photos.
Oh, what a joy it has been to be the mom to this little miracle baby girl. If you’ve been around here for a while, you know about our journey to Olive. Years TTC and then going through IVF was the hardest thing we have ever done, but BOY was it worth it a million times over! These photos may not seem like anything too interesting and let’s be serious – they are mostly here for me to look back on.
My favorite thing about this is probably watching her hair grow. SO CRAZY.
Need help finding a dress for an upcoming wedding? We’ve rounded up our favorites from Nordstrom, Anthropologie and REVOLVE for you.
NORDSTROM
Nordstrom is by far the most popular amongst our followers for shopping for wedding dresses! We have to admit that we are a little salty that the Nordstrom here in Richmond closed and haven’t shopped there in a while. BUT, they really do have a great selection of, well, almost everything. So, we hit our old trusty site to find a few favorites for wedding guests and here they are.
I picked a bunch of VERY different style dresses to hopefully appeal to all styles and dress codes.
REVOLVE
Revolve seems to be a pretty polarizing retailer. You either love it or you hate it. Either way, they have a great selection of wedding guest dresses – including the ones we are wearing in the pic above! (Rebecca’s Saylor Dress, Catherine’s Bardot Dress). Here are a few of our favorite options available right now.
ANTHROPOLOGIE
I have to admit that it has been a while since I shopped on Anthropologie! But when I polled my instagram followers and asked what their go-to retailers for wedding guest dresses were, so many people said Anthro. And DANG. I have been missing out!!! For a while I have had trouble getting inspired or seeing something that really *wows* me and now I know where all the good stuff has been hiding! There are so many fun occasion dresses and not just from in-house brand BHDLN. Now I just need more special occasions.
Here are a few that really caught my eye, but their whole wedding shop is great.
The most maximalist pajama collab that LAKE has done since we have been partners.
When we got the email that LAKE was partnering with Blair Eadie for an Atlantic-Pacific x LAKE Collection, we were thrilled. We immediately texted each other to say how stoked we were to see the designs. As LAKE partners, we get to choose a few pieces to try from each collection and choosing which ones we wanted for this was SO hard. I swear, we both stared at the line sheet for hours trying to decide.
It’s just that good.
We were both immediately drawn to the rainbow pieces! Cath decided on the pajama set and I went for the robe. They are like rays of sunshine in our closets (and drawers). We chose the poplin pj sets this time, but of course they have the classic PIMA Cotton pajamas in a special Atlantic-Pacific color combo as well.
We were so excited to bring our pjs with us to our recent trip to Primland’s Auberge Resort and snapped some pix in our cottage. Stay tuned for more photos and video from the trip, it was a good one and the pajamas really brought up the morning vibes.
As always, we only share things here that we REALLY love. So trust us when we say that everything LAKE is worth the price tag.
Olive is wearing the baby Easter pajamas and they are beyond adorable! If the Atlantic-Pacific collection isn’t speaking to you- there is still time to get your Easter pajamas, yall! (Size up for babies, they run a little small. Olive is in 9-12 months).
Which pieces do you guys have your eyes on? Let us know if you buy something!
