Author

Shalice Noel

 

We’re gearing up for Fouth of July with my cousin in Laguna Beach and I not short on outfits. I quickly discovered after I did my weekly donation pile, that so many of my favorite outfits include red, white, and blue. Mt littlest joined in on the fun with his gingham shirt, cutoffs and saltwater sandals.

Happy almost fourth of July!

More Fourth of July Inspo!

shorts ZARA SIMILAR :: camel coat PM BASICS and SIMILAR :: tank TWENTY TEES :: scarf JOHNNY WAS :: sunnies CHLOE :: shot by Tasha

Honestly, few things make my heart skip like this stripe and camel duo. We’re currently encountering a major heat wave so optional layering is a must! I own a million soft tanks, from white to black, soft to light weight and you should too. I like to pair the indispensable tank with striped shorts or cutoffs, a camel coat or rain jacket. If you’re looking for multiple options, this combo also works with flip flops for a BBQ on the beach or a low heel for dinner with friends.

skirt STORETS and SIMILAR :: polo shirt LACOSTE :: sneakers LACOSTE 

Never enough gingham – EVER. We are filming a fun project today, so stay tuned. I plan to share it on every channel once it goes live. And yes, I’m a little nervous but even more excited to share it. Cheers to lots of gingham, pool days and the weekend!

 

 

 

jacket AG JEANS :: heels MATISSE COCONUTS :: jeans NSF from BARNEYS  this $70 version :: black tank :: aviator sunnies CHLOÈ :: shot in Omaha, NE

To highlight a fun stripe jacket, I like to keep it simple with all black. It’s way easier to highlight a new color and shape with a monochrome basics – $70 jeans, trusty tank and stripe jacket I love thats light enough for summer nights. Back to writing our summer bucket list because its already June 22nd! I can’t believe it. What’s your go-to summer look?

 

corset top ANTHROPOLOGIE   :: jeans NSF at BARNEYS NYC I also like this crop flare version HERE :: heels MODE COLLECTIVE and SIMILAR ::

Three things I love about this top: its linen, oversize and has a corset. I got so many compliments while wearing it for date night I had to share with you. Not to mention, I paired if with black jeans that look great with summer tops. Here are some of my faves:

Because date night is sometimes short as in we only have time for coffee and dessert, I included two dinner places and two coffee shops we love here in LA.

4 Places You Won’t Wanna Miss in LA

Republique – great ambiance, lovely tile floor and yummy brussels sprouts.

Civil Coffee – yummy almond milk mochas in a marble and brass filed haven.

Winsome – hip diner, yummy everything.

Eightfold Coffee – minimalist design, friendly staff, and great matcha green tea.

 

 

 

 

Who doesn’t love a good Summer top under $40?  I’m loving this floral off the shoulder top with bell sleeves. We brought all the kids to Nordstrom Rack for some tops for me and work pants for Reid. Miraculously, we only left with 4 impulse buys and one fidget spinner. I was so proud of ourselves. We celebrated over guac, chips and burritos. If you’re on the fence, both my tops I linked below are under $40, and at that price, I’m not stressing about the green tea I spilled on them.

MORE TOPS UNDER $40

Happy Tuesday!

top ASTR THE LABEL I also like THIS:: jeans CURRENT ELLIOT and SIMILAR :: wrap heels SIMILAR and SIMILAR 

 


 


 

phoebe distressed AG JEANS :: jacket LINEA PELLE :: tank LUSH similar :: heels Coconuts by MATISSE :: bag REBECCA MINKOFF ::

 

We set out on a sunny Friday morning which happened to also be National Donut day, for the city of Chicago. We allotted 4 days of travel via a large 2017 Suburban thanks to Budget, that we picked up the night before, along with donuts. The vehicle was perfect for our long journey of 2700 miles with stops in La Verkin, Utah, Vail, CO, Omaha, NE, Cedar Rapids, IA, and finally Chicago, IL. While as a party of six, as you can imagine there was a lot of “are we there yet?” and when can we dig into the candy kinds of questions. Beyond that, there was a lot of eye spying games and ooh’s and ahh’s once we got to Utah and were in awe of the rocks and mountains. It was great to be able to stop when we saw a scenic overlook or an old gas station or whatever of interest. I remember driving with Reid when we were dating from Chicago to Omaha and barely stopping once. Now, with children, they force you to stay flexible, go with the flow and savor this time that I hope they never forget. While we LOVED the long car trip, we all agreed flying home with American Airlines was the way to go. Four hours of flying versus four days, was a huge difference! Read on below for some travel tips answering some of my most asked questions.

Tips for Travel:

Where to Stay when visiting ZION NATIONAL PARK?

I got asked this a ton when we drove through Zion National Park. Stay in Springdale if you want to catch the ZION national park hikes and trails right out your front door. Such an artsy and pedestrian friendly little town (La Quinta had a great pool ). We made the rookie mistake of staying in La Verkin instead of Springdale which is closer to the park and has a free bus service that takes you to the ZION entrance. Read more Here.

Bring protein snacks and water everywhere! The desert literally had zero watering holes nearby. Be prepared.

Get organized. We had all the kids clothes in Ziploc bags. Each bag contained 1 full outfit (shirt and shorts or dress) and 1 pair of socks and underwear.

Don’t let kids pack their backpacks it sounds good but edit, edit! You’ll thank me when you’re on your second hike and they’re complaining how heavy their backpack is.

Don’t forget the baby wipes! I use them for everything from ice cream mustaches to cleaning the dashboard.

Make frequent stops at the scenic overlooks. The theme of your trip (if you’re traveling as a family) is SLOW and SAVOR. Even though it seems counter intuitive and oh-so hard, don’t rush what could be the most unforgettable memory. Truly.

 

girls romper Saks Fifth Avenue // girls white cold shoulder dress Target // girls maxi dress Target // my Jacket AG JEANS 

bedroom credits //

nightstands Urban Outfitters // linen sheets West Elm // clothing rack IKEA // grommet tee Nordstrom // ivory sofa Interior Define //jute rug West Elm

blazer MISHA COLLECTION and SIMILAR :: white pants SIMILAR or HERE :: clutch bag  HAMMITT :: sunnies CHLOÈ

I’m loving all things blazer and this one is no exception. I paired this one shoulder blazer with white pants for a fresh take on a nautical look. I also was happy to find Summers are for blazers, who knew? How to wear them? Here are three short ideas.

More White Pants Here:

Pair a blazer with cutoffs, over a maxi dress (for shape) or cropped jeans.

 

Top STORETS :: denim shorts FRAME :: Similar shorts for $32 :: dinner plates POTTERY BARN :: Salad Dressing Shaker ::  photo’s by Tasha 

Balsamic Vinegrette, Oriental Dressing, and Mustard Vinegrette are some of my favorites to bring for summer picnics and lunch on the patio. My favorite type of lettuce is butter lettuce and I depending on what I have in the fridge, I usually add avocado, salted sunflower seeds, and black olives. What are your favorite salads? Scroll down for all my recipes!

Balsamic Vinegrette 

1 t minced garlic

3 T sugar or 1 T agave

3 T balsamic vinegar

1/3 cup canola oil or grapeseed oil

1 t salt

Instructions: mix, shake and chill before use.

Oriental Dressing

4 T sugar

1 t. salt

2 t. soy sauce

1/2 cup vegetable oil

6 T white vinegar

Combine in a lidded jar, and shake well.

Mustard Vinagrette from Bobby Flay

Zest and juice of 1 large lemon

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon

1 teaspoon clover honey

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup olive oil or canola oil

whisk and enjoy!

 



my jeans :: my gingham top :: cashmere cardigan :: her top :: shorts   :: his top similar  and shorts similar

I partnered with Abercrombie & Fitch sharing some of our summer favorites. On this particular morning, the beach was unusually cold, so layers were appreciated. My 7 year-old kept stealing my cashmere cardigan as we approached the aquarium at the end of the pier. It was worth the chilly walk up! The kids loved seeing small sharks, starfish to pet and slippery eels. In a strange way, the walk to the pier and fresh ocean air always seems to give us an appetite for ice cream at Manhattan Beach Creamery. I don’t fret too much when the kids spill all over their shirts. Everything from A & F has been washable and durable, two aspects I love about A & F kids clothes not to mention, they are right on trend. How cute the the shoulder ruffle on her top? I want one in my size so we can be twins. Meanwhile, I’m staying cozy with this cashmere cardi and lightwash jeans that surprisingly go with everything. Which are your favorites?

More Faves from A & F:

Thank you Abercrombie & Fitch for sponsoring this post!