SO GOOD MOMS' NIGHT: WHAT TO WEAR

Confession: I've been taking a lot of "selfies" lately. Almost 98% of these selfies are just for me... a chance to see what I look like in my outfit... in my camera. (Cray cray, I know). The other 2% of my photos are texted to my fashion crush and style guru Robin Saperstein. Upon receiving my texts, Robin kindly indulges me with a "Yay," "NO," or "It's not my favorite," (which is code for, "you need my help.")  Well, in an effort to feel so good, Eden and I decided we'd shop her closet to find the cutest outfits for our Moms' Night for the Project Runway finale where we're serving up Yoplait Frozen Yogurt. This soooo beats taking my own photo and sucking it in for the camera. Check it out!

PINTEREST MAKES ME PINE

Not so long ago, I whined about how Pinterest made me feel pathetic. I declared that the fashionistas, posing with their perfectly tilted heads, and baubled-out wrists made me feel ridiculously uncool and uncoordinated. I decided that the travel pins only made my wanderlust get worse and the reality of my current finances more clear. Finally, I determined that I’d never have time to be as crafty as I wish I could be and that, with my busy schedule, DIY projects were a distant dream.

Guess what? I’ve soooooo changed my tune.

That’s right. Pinterest is my new best friend and my newest full time obsession. Forget Facebook stalking. That’s so 2012.

These days, I’m all about stalking other people's visions, visuals, and very cool sh*t. From fabulous fashion and must have Spring/Summer style, to recipes that I’m sure I can find the time to make, and to inspiring DIY projects and parties that I’m trying to find an excuse to have, I cannot REPIN fast enough!

Here are some of the boards, ideas, and pinners that I’m pining for:

 Perfectly Styled

Who knew that the reality show OC would turn out designers with actual taste and fabulous style? Right now, I’m totally digging the boards from Lauren Conrad. I’m also, of course, obsessed with the boards from my girl Robin Saperstein, who has a knack for gorgeous accessories and keeps a close eye on fashion iconslike Olivia Palermo. 

Perfectly Fed

You know what, I’m discovering that the oven and me actually get along quite well and thanks to a few trusty recipes, I can move past my mostly-meatloaf-meals and try other delicious dishes. I’ve been making a ton of recipes from Skinny Taste... Her recipes are healthy and light and seriously easy.  I’m even going to try some of the mother’s day recipes from Martha Stewart Living.  Turns out, her ideas are not all that un-doable for every day moms. Well… they're aaaalmost undoable, because, um, I don’t have my own lavender or cucumber garden, BUT the new me is willing to give it a try... especially since Trader Joe's packages that sh*t up and gets it ready to go!

Perfectly Partied

Over the next few weeks and months, I’m going to be hosting a bunch various parties and events. I’ll be sharing details of these as I roll them out, but let me just say in the meantime, a) I’m now wishing I could be an event/wedding planner and b) my inner DIY/Craft Goddess-ness is chomping at the bit to come out and play. Pinners  like my darling friend Eden Passante of Sugar and Charm, inspire me daily. Also digging Young House Love, Savings Mania,  oh and, of course, the queen of DIY herself… Martha-I-can-do-everything-Stewart.

Basically, this season, as the self-acclaimed “not so queen of it all,” I'm challenging myself to wearing, making and DOING everything I love... Or at least trying to do all of that. Next time, we’ll discuss the travel boards. That requires a whole different story… and budget. 

Who are your favorite pinners and boards to follow? 

HOW TO GET JESSICA ALBA'S LOOK... AND BOOK!

Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for The Honest Company

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to sit down and have a full-on girl chat with the lovely actress Jessica Alba at her book launch party for The Honest Life, hosted by TheMOMS (my fave NY girls). In her book, Jessica shares personal and relatable stories, covering topics essential to motherhood: Food (how to eat seasonally and healthfully without feeling like everything needs to be home/organically grown), Cleaning (how to clean and decorate your home with healthy, non-toxic products), Beauty tips (Um, she's gorgeous... so I'm pretty sure she has this category down pat) and Style...

In my opinion, Jessica Alba is one of the best dressed celebrities (and certainly moms) in Hollywood. Her style looks effortless but always put together and on trend. When we met, I asked her what her secret was- what was a number one staple that every woman/mom should invest in: "A perfectly fitted and well-tailored blazer." Jessica believes that investing in timeless basics like a blazer, or well fitted jeans, you can create a lasting foundation for any wardrobe and any size body. "Find a tailor- even your dry cleaner- and make sure your clothes fit properly. If it fits, it will look fab!"

Well, my friend and celebrity stylist Robin Saperstein joined me for a Lifetime Moms video to show how any mom can  recreate a Jessica Alba look that works with our busy lifestyles. Check it out!

@jessicaalba

@honest

#TheHonestLife

SPRING TRAINING... MINUS THE TRAINING.

Ah, it's March and that means Spring is in the air... Actually, here in Los Angeles, Spring was in the air in December and pretty much all through January...  and I'm pretty sure I spotted Summer one weekend in February.... So forget the air part. It's just March. And that means a lot of things...

For starters, for the past couple of years, every March I seem to make it my mission to cleanse. I want to clean house. To clean body. To clean mind. Without fail though, having just spent the two months prior to March making excuses, mentally, as to why postponing all my "cleansing" resolutions is probably better in the long run, the LONG RUN actually catches up with me and I find myself high tailing it into "time to get your sh*t together" mode come March 1st.

So here we are. And hey, so far, so good.

Here's the current state of affairs:

1. Body

I did actually cleanse. Kind of. 

Thanks to an extremely popular juice company that offers individual juices, or 3 or 5 day kits, I signed up for a 5 day cleanse. By the end of day two though, I must admit, I was beyond ravenous and couldn't stop thinking about hummus. Go figure, hummus, of all things. Not one to talk myself off ledges, I caved in and cut up a cucumber (how bad can a cucumber be), and dipped it (okay, COVERED IT) in hummus. Craving satisfied.... Next day, however, I had to be on set for a project I was working on with Lifetime Moms and realized I had only taken two juices (out of 6) with me for an entire day. One of the models on set suggested I just drink lemon and hot water for the rest of the day and/or see if the caterer could just blend my food... so it would be kind of like juice/fluids. Um.... I'm gonna let you sit with that one and give you the opportunity to imagine how much that did NOT happen and how much I was seen grazing at the craft services table for the rest of the day.

2. Mind

It turns out, "poop talk" can help with literacy.

A month or two ago, I was in sort of a disciplinary standoff situation with Jonah. He was constantly silly, constantly using bathroom language, and even talking back. I had to figure out a way to get back to the consequence basics and figure out what I could take away that was his Kryptonite. (Turns out, not much phases him).

However, one day, I got a report from his teacher that he had been talking back. Apparently, he remarked that what they were going to be doing was "stupid." I died. Read the whole story here. 

Things have calmed down since then and his behavior has shaped up. Not sure if it's my new-found resolve, or a miraculous maturity development for him,  OR the fact that he had been begging to get hot lunches at school and I told him that if I get a week straight of a perfect report, I'd let him get it. So... The good news: We're in the 2nd week of hot lunch land and therefore, mornings are now a breeze for me. The bad news: They serve f**king ice cream. I'm telling myself the organic part makes it better. But I digress...

He was recently given a few books from the Captain Underpants series and when I first read one to him, and he nearly choked laughing so hard, I thought.... Hmm. Maybe not the right book for a kid that has a hard time holding back the fart, poop, pee talk. At dinner. 

But... last night, he begged me to do a mad libs type section of one of the books and I thought of an idea. 1) If he takes this silly talk outside of this dedicated silly talk time, he loses UNO (our favorite family activity), electronics, TV, and all of these books. At the same time. For one week. 2) He needs to sound out the words and try to read to ME.

Turns out POOP is a wonderful word to teach early language development and reading skills. He nailed it.

3.  House

I stopped caring about having an organized closet.  I blame this on the long episodes of Downton Abbey. There's more important things to focus on...

It's hard to believe that exactly 2 years ago, I met Robin Saperstein of High Heel in a Haystack, she helped me with a Wardrobe Overhaul, then sent me on my way with a ton of outfit options (from my own closet!)  Since then, I've updated my wardrobe cautiously and done my best to keep my closet tidy. But hey, life gets busy and Matthew Crowley and Lady Mary get married and the whole thing goes to poop. (See #2). So, it was time to call on my girl and have her come over and remind me why certain jeans should be left in 2011.

In about 3.5 hours, I had a completely new and organized closet, and could see what I was workin' with. (Before and after pic above).  According to Robin, I'm actually all set for Spring ... AND we even shopped my closet and reinvented some clothing. Why say goodbye to my very first and favorite JBrand jeans with the big gaping holes in the knees, which I've already had patched to create a semi distressed look, when I can have them repatched and destressed AGAIN?! Additionally, Robin recommended I take a cute purple dress from JCrew and have the it shortened, and the trim brought up to give it a fresh and current look. Not bad for a total of $36 bucks right? ("Before" pics taken at the Tailor's. Dress pinned. Forgive the "selfies.").

All in all, Spring is off to a good start. I'm heading to Seattle this weekend with P on behalf of the 2 Days in Seattle Campaign (SO excited) and next week, the story featuring that mysterious trip I took in November will be featured in Ladies Home Journal. Did I mention Tina Fey is on the cover? Feeling pretty lucky right now. Forget New Year's resolutions. I love March.

HOLIDAY LOOKS

Ho, friggin', ho. 'Tis the season to be jolly... and make fun of holiday sweaters. Whether the lit up mall and long lines for Santa are getting you in the holiday spirit or not, one thing is for certain, this time of year, especially for parents, is pure madness. From holiday parties at schools, to gifts for teachers, to scheduling play dates and plans while school's out, our dance card is full... And that's not including the holiday work parties and family/friend get togethers (where I pray that the egg nog is spiked and the latkes are extra crispy). A few weeks ago, my girl Robin Saperstein of High Heel in a Haystack came over and we played adult dress up. Faaaaaashion! We started talking about the holidays and some of the events and parties I've got (believe me, I'm not that cool)... Robin helped me come up with a few outfit options. Hopefully this will inspire you to think about what you're going to wear... assuming you haven't already committed to a lovely red knit sweater adorned with an embroidered Rudolph and a yule tide log.... If you have that look picked out, please wear it. And invite me to the party. Oh, please.

RED JEANS: 3 WAYS

Earlier this year, Robin Saperstein of High Heel in a Haystack and I met and as I've said before, I was convinced we were not only separated at birth, but that we shared a deeply stylish karmic fashion connection. Robin, a fashion stylist based here in Los Angeles gave me a complete wardrobe makeover. Not only did she go through my closet and help me determine which clothes shouted 1993 and needed to be bagged immediately, but she put together some fantastic looks for me that inspired me to continue to think about style and actually enjoy getting dressed (in something other than yoga pants and my American Apparel pullover).

Well this weekend, we hung out and ended up playing dress up. Literally. We started talking about some outfits I could wear to different events and holidays and also some ideas for fully functional days (meaning, what do I wear on fully kid, fully exhausting, down in the trenches days). Equipped with a fab pair of Current Elliot red skinnies, I had Robin show me three ways to wear red jeans without something just black. I loved what she came up with so we decided that we'd film it and share it with you.

Btw, can I still look stylish with these jeans unbuttoned on Thanksgiving???? Just wonderin'.... Enjoy!

THE NEW, OLD ME- PART 2

I have a new theory. After my wardrobe overhaul, I realized my clothes had more of a personality than I thought. It occurred to me today as I went to put on a newly styled outfit, that my clothes had voices and lives a la Toy Story... I had this vision that every time I opened the closet door, my oldest and most pilled sweater prayed for me to put it on.... My old jeans, slumped over some hanger, knowing their days were numbered and I was just keeping them around for sentimental purposes, probably muttered "F you" under it's breath as I pushed them aside for my skinny jeans... A pair of gold wedges, that maybe got worn ONCE, shot out their best sparkle in hopes I'd see their value. Alas, they were as cheesy as I thought they might be when I bought them (anyway).

Which brings me to...

The New, Old Me- Part 2: THE LOOKS

Okay, so after 4 plus hours at my house with Robin Saperstein, the stylist who I might slightly be Single White Femaling, we set a date to hit the stores. OH, and did we hit it hard....

When Robin shops for/ with clients, she's on a mission. After looking through my wardrobe she had a clear idea of what I needed and what would work well with my body. Our goal was to find clothes that I could wear from day to night... clothes that could be worn on a play date, dinner date and even on camera. I let Robin pull everything and anything...

Stationed in a massive dressing room, and wearing my nude ("charming") underwear and much-in-need of a wash (trash) nude bra, the trying on began.... Oh, there were plenty of automatic NO's. Like this ...

I like to call this look "Whore-y Chic." I think my cracked out look really seals the deal doesn't it?

Once we had our final faves, (we went to two stores- Niemans & JCrew), keeping in mind with our budget, we purchased our must-have/ LOVES. And then..... Back at my house, ROBIN DID HER MAGIC. Using my new clothes and many of my old clothes, Robin shopped my wardrobe and put together THE LOOKS. Here are some of my favorites:

A From-Day-to-Night look:

DAY

Blouse, Joie (new), Shorts, JCrew (new), Shoes, Steve Madden (old), Necklace, JCrew (new)

NIGHT

Cardigan, Lily McNeal (old), Shorts, JCrew (new), Wedges, Stuart Weitzman (new), Jewelry, JCrew (new)

Great looks for Everyday (Play date, running errands, movies, etc)....

LEFT: Sweater, JCrew (new), Necklace, Forever 21 (old), Bracelets, JCrew (new), Jeans, J Brand (old), Shows, Dolce Vita (old)

MIDDLE: Tee Shirt, Anat B. (new), Scarf, Banana Republic (new), Cargo pants, JCrew (new), Shoes, Steve Madden (old)

RIGHT: Cardigan, JCrew (new), Tee Shirt, JCrew (old), Necklace, JCrew (new), Jeans, J Brand (old), Shoes, Sam Edelman (old)

And finally, a couple NEW Looks repurposing only OLD clothes:

LEFT: Cardigan, Forever 21, Tank, Anthropologie, Jeans, Flying Monkey (Anat B.), Wedges, Steve Madden

RIGHT: Jacket, JCrew, Striped Tee, Gap, Jeans, Flying Monkey (Anat B.), Wedges, Steve Madden

Clearly, there were a few "toys" that got to stay. The ripped JBrand skinnies, my brown wedges... They're my Woody and Buzzes... Pieces that I'll grow old with.... Or at the very least, grow out of....

Stay tuned for the final installment to this process, my closet! Thanks to Robin of High Heel in a Haystack and Rebecca of Love Live Small, you'll be inspired to Design Cycle too!