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Barbela gold oval diamond ring and tea cup I found at an antique store in Paris.

It is no mystery, that some of my favorite jewelry is the simplest. It also helps that the simplest works with my gig as a mom. Too many points and grooves snag and get caught, but not this gold diamond oval ring from Barbela Design. Known for its simple yet sophisticated jewelry for the young professional (and mom), Barbela Design balances glamorous elements with minimalist detail. So you feel polishe, but not overdone. Now, back to mom duty, first stop, mud clean up! Annnnnnd that’s why I always wear black. Ha! Exclusive to ShaliceNoel readers: use code: BDxSN15 for 15% off your purchase. Hurry, it expires June 9, 2015!

Thank you Barbela Design for sponsoring this post!
See more of their rings here

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Top (fits tts, size small featured) / Jacket c/o Madewell / Jeans / Heels

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We we were off to celebrate my sister’s birthday party in the country after church, purple tulips in hand. Afterall, purple is her favorite color and my little guy was pretty fond of them, i.e., no one else can hold them. As you can imagine, we’re still reciting “sharing is caring,” to our newly two-nager. Our weekends are so packed that I need a no nonsense, I-feel-good-in-it-kind-of-top. This peplum fit the bill for its whimsical lines and stretchy fabric. Not to mention, it looks pulled together with my (very) well loved white blazer or denim jacket without looking too pulled together. The possibilities? Endless. Kind of like the grey chilly days here in Chicago. Here’s hoping the weather gets the memo, like tomorrow, because it’s June 1st, and we just turned on the furnace. Happy June everyone!

TAGS Spring, Fashion, Everyday Madewell

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 Before he sucked on a straw he found on the sidewalk . . . #fail

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jumpsuit c/o Rebecca Minkoff / sandals / moto jacket c/o Rebecca Minkoff / necklace similar /
clutch c/o Rebecca Minkoff

We’re attempting a short getaway, next week, (just the hubs and I, thanks mom!!) so here are my travel essentials. Keep in mind, lightweight fabrics and layered options fare best with unpredictable weather and chilly airplanes. If we were traveling with kids, this would look wayyyy different to the tune of black skinnies aka yoga pants, 100 cheerios, 25 fruit lollipops  and a chocolate bar thrown in. But I’ll save that for another post. Meanwhile, I’m all ears for your tips, tricks and travel essentials!!

ps. stay tuned for my travel essentials  . . .

Many thanks to Georgia Bateman of 
Jorjah-b Photography for her friendship and photography!

XX

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Laura Breneman, who formally worked fashion at Ralph Lauren for 10 years, and I orginally met up in NYC, and the rest is history. She’s one of the most creative people I know, and does amazing things with leather. Read on.

Q. Why Bu-kin? 
Laura: BU-KIN comes from my maiden name Buchen. A lot of what I do and make comes from what I learned when I was young from my Mother and Grandmothers as well as where I grew up. I grew up in Lancaster County, where things are simple and pure. So this is an ode to my family and my past! 


Q. What inspires you? 
LB: Oh, EVERYTHING! its is hard to say what exactly, I used to dream ideas in my sleep. I find inspiration all around me everyday. Sometimes its the most random things , like the color pink of an invoice slip against a striped fabric swatch, or markings on tiles in the subway station. I try to be open to what I feel when I am inspired, and not let media determine if I think it is right or not. 

Q. What has been your proudest moment thus far? 
LB: This is funny question because I have always been making and sewing my whole life and when I finally figure something out after hours of trial and error ( and if I am alone…) I sometimes dance around the room to celebrate “I made it, i finally made it!”Well, like I said, I have always been making things and I have tried to sell all sorts of things over the years but never seriously. After about two years of having my baby shoes be a hobby and making them all by hand, I think my ” I-made-it-moment” was when I went to pick up my first order of shoes produced for me by the Amish. It was the realization that my business was real and that it moved from hobby to business. Also I would say along with that because of the Amish, being able to start wholesaling in February.  
Q. Where do you see Bu-kin in 5 years? 
LB: I really want to move on to having a full children’s accessory brand. I feel that there are so many amazing children’s brands out there with really fun prints and colors, but it is hard to find simple classic basics that go back to these items. So, I would love to offer classic items for all ages of children not just babies and not just shoes! I am working on several items right now with the Amish that I am very excited about that are along these lines. 


Q. How has having a studio space affected you, the biz? 
LB: So much! I used to work out of 4 foot space in the middle of our small apartment in Brooklyn. I would have to spend each morning pulling everything out to work and then put it all back at night! When I would have larger orders come in the space would just be filled with boxes and it was so hard to work. I would end up just working on the floor most of the time because my desk space was so small and we would constantly be finding leather scrapes all over the apartment. I was so, so happy to move into my studio space. I now have a place for everything and space to work and the best part is I don’t have to pack it all up every night! I share my space with two other artists a Doll maker and a Florist so it is really nice to have the community as well, working alone gets well…lonely ha! 
Q. There seems to be a Renaissance of sorts in Brooklyn with so many aspiring designers, creators? Your thoughts? 
LB: Brooklyn is an amazing place to be if you are a maker. When I first moved here I was in to making perfumes and I would buy all my supplies online, then one day I was walking down the street and I found two essence shops, selling oils! Now, with my shoe business there is shoe making supply store a bike ride away. 
Everything you need is here and more. There is a large community around it as well which I think helps. There is always a fair or market happening to expose local artists. You are so close to the hype of the city and you can be inspired by it, but then you can find your happy place in Brooklyn and be able to focus on your work. 
Q. What music is streaming in the studio these days? 
LB: I wish I had something more exciting to say but I am a Pandora girl. My regular stations are Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero’s, Mazzy Star, Francoise Hardy , Sam Cooke and an occasional Beethoven when I am being really dramatic, haha! 

Q. Where can we get our hands on Bu-kin?

LB:  The Best place to buy them is my website! www.BU-KIN.com. I feature different one of a kind colors that you may not see in stores. I also sometimes feature giveaways, special sales and one-of-a-kind leather on my Instagram @bukinbooties along with behind the scenes photos of the process and of course tons of pictures of cute baby shoes! If you would like to purchase In store, my shoes are now available at the following NY locations:



(both locations in Brooklyn)  

 Stay tuned to see how I style some gorgeous Bu-kin leather bags …
Thanks, Laura, for inviting us into your studio.

xx



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1. A pop of orange espadrille for an all black or all white ensemble. Yes please.

2. Stripe espadrilles go with almost anything.

3. Comfy espadrilles for $50? I’m in.

4. Love the ankle strap and you’ll be surprised at the comfort level.

5. Gold sandal goodness …. all I need is a tan.

6. Business casual with a point.

TAGGING spring, flats, style, What to wear

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dress sandal / lips / jacket / vintage Chanel c/o Rice and Beans Vintage

Originally started by rockstar mom, Sarah Korsiak Cellier, of Rice and Beans Vintage, who sought out to bring vintage Chanel to the masses, and masses she did. She personally oversees each bag’s fabric, quality, authenticity, cut and detail. All I needed to hear was the three words: vintage, red, Chanel, and I was all in. A no brainer right? She also takes personal requests. Hmm, I wonder if I could request a mini red vintage Chanel for my 5-year old. Of course, she’d only be allowed to look at it. See more of her collection here.


TAGS vintage, Chanel, fashion, Vintage Chanel

Photography
 Kelly Allison instagram | website 

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trench similar / clog similar boyfriend shorts / sweater /

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The weather has been all across the board lately, I don’t know whether to bust out the cutoffs, jeans, or just put my robe back on. I like my cutoffs dressed up, as I did here with a blazer or with clogs and a trench. Either way, I’m loving this foray into spring getup thanks to a comfy sweater and affordable cutoffs. Speaking of, if you’re in the market for cutoffs this summer without paying the same price as a one way ticket to LA, you’re in luck. These are under $80 and super comfy. I like dressing them up with a clog, or down with sandals. They’re a summer must have. Now, all we need is a temperature hike and a beach. See more of the Nordstrom Treasure & Bond collection HERE.

Thank you Nordstrom for sponsoring this post!
Photography: Kelly Allison instagram | website 
Photographer’s assistant: Rachel Brown Kulp website
MUA: Alexa Glombicki | website


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It started with mom 🙂 Indeed.

Coffee break with granny.

Yogurt pit stop via Red Mango 

Camoflaged toddler

Dress c/o Lavish Alice  / Nude heels c/o Rockport

So grateful for this lady I call my mom. My kids are obsessed with “granny” who taught me a lot about motherhood. Growing up in Hong Kong, she overcame lot of obstacles and also had a colorful hertage we don’t even have time to touch on. What you should know is that she became a flight attendant, flew to Newport Beach, California, and met my dad on a blind date. I guess you could say the rest is history. She went on to have four children (I’m the third), and served selflessly. Honestly, I only appreciated more of what my mom did after I had kids. The 120 Cheerios and milk spilt on the floor and it’s only 9am kind of days I think, how did she do it? Boy, did I want to kiss her feet! Early on, I remember my mom stopping what she was working on, leaving our house a mess and playing Legos on the floor. Messy house, good building, but great memories. Thanks, mom, for not only inspiring my own minimalist style (I’m obsessed with all black thanks to her influence), but more importantly inspiring me to love my children fiercely.Which sometimes means just playing on the floor with them.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Tags mom, mother’s day, style inspiration, motherhood

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MaryLu sandal // Cutoffs similar // Blazer similar // Sunnies // Necklace similar // Tee 

Of course she would never read I book if I asked her to.
Gaby Sandal // Dress similar // Denim Jacket // Hat

Gaby sandal // Jeans // Hat //Jacket //

I’m always in search of a comfy sandal. A nude sandal to be exact and the Børn Gaby and MaryLu delivers. I’m either chasing alleycats, stubborn five year olds holding books they received from church, a newly pottytrained two year old, or a hot husband with a new camera. I have no time to overthink my sandals. These two sandals will be on repeat with the new warmer temperatures here in Chicago. Well, sort of. Today’s 50 degrees was a little hard to swallow. We’ll have to take a raincheck for my requested mother’s day picnic at the lake.  Meanwhile, see more of the Børn spring collection here.

Thank you Børn for sponsoring this post!

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Still channeling ‘funny face’  . . . . dress // also here via Lavish Alice //  nude pumps

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dress / also here via Lavish Alice / nude pumps
Java and laced up
dress / also here via Lavish Alice / nude pumps

Move over monotony, a pop of lips and x’s are in your future. Or your future spring wardrobe that is. Because color block is all great but x’s are better. And the fact that it fits two diapers? Bonus. Inspired by bold over the top shades of monochrome and pink, Ann Howell of Ann Howell Designs, (and oldest of six!) likes to design everything from the stitch up. Meaning, all her clutches are hand painted and stitched. If you have an all neutral or all black situation on repeat, why not a pop of lipstick clutch or x’s to bring your outfit from ho-hum to gosh, I need that bag? Because sometimes forging the style balance is as uncomplicated as that, a balance of monochrome and a pop of color. It’s that simple. See more of her handmade creations here.

PS. You’ll be seeing more of this dress.



Credits
Taylor Hansen Hughes
Hues Photography
Hair/MUA
Assistant/Lighting Director
Zac Castro
Thank you Ann Howell Art for sponsoring this post!

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