The Power of Perfect Denim

Fashion

It’s a well documented fact that I’m a jeans addict. I occasionally stray and buy a skirt or dress, but they tend to languish in my closet. I always reach for jeans first. But no matter how many pairs I’ve already crammed into my closet, I can always find room for a new favorite. You know what I’m taking about. That pair you reach for day after day after day, hoping no one notices you’ve worn the same pants for a week!

That’s the case with my latest pair of Hudson Jeans from Zappos. I may have worn them to work Friday, {dressed up with this blazer, this top and these pumps} and then not taken them off all weekend long! A good pair of ripped jeans is really a closet staple these days – proof that they look just as good during a playdate at the park as they do dressed up for a date night.

A pair of jeans that makes me feel just as good when I’m rolling around on the ground as they do when I’m dressing up is exactly what I need right now. With little time to do extensive outfit planning, I need to be able to reach into the closet, grab and go! These might even show up at the Thanksgiving table. I won’t lie, my time is now spent dressing Carter. It it kills me to be able to dress him up in his first {of many!} pairs of jeans too. I’m totally getting into the mama+baby fashion thing. It is futile to resist the cuteness.

Be sure to check out the rest of my mama-style posts HERE! Interested in seeing more? I’m always on the fence about whether or not I should continue outfit posts. Let me know in the comments!

what i’m wearing: hudson jeans from zappos | tibi perforated sweater {similar} | nike high tops | swing coat {similar} | sunnies

what carter is wearing: hoodie, jeans & high tops from zara

original photography for apartment 34 by suzanna scott

This post is in partnership with Zappos and Hudson Jeans. Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting collaborations we’re excited about and that have kept Apartment 34’s doors open.

What to Wear for Winter Adventures

Fashion

Call me crazy, but winter is my favorite fashion season of the year. Winter fashion let’s you play with thick textured layers, dusty colors and luscious fabrics. And I’ve never met a sweater or coat I didn’t love. Case in point: the latest installment of my post-baby personal style.

While it may look like I took a jaunt across the pond to Wales – that was the inspiration for my styling choices with this look – don’t be fooled!

This beautifully rustic location is a park a mere five minutes from our loft! A hike up a grassy hill delivers some of the best views in all of San Francisco. My Hunter Boots from Zappos look right at home don’t they? There’s nothing better than a wardrobe staple that’s as functional as it is beautifully designed. The heritage of Hunter Boots feels timeless. The modern updates like the leather strap detailing makes Hunters as relevant today as they were when founded over 150 years ago.

It’s been fun to get out of my leggings and back to exploring my own closet in the last couple months. Now that I’ve taken little mini adventures around San Francisco, I may venture even further. All the more reason to come up with another good outfit, right?

If you need to catch up, check out my latest personal style posts HERE! And follow Apartment 34 on Snapchat (apartment34) to get some behind the scenes peeks into my closet and day to day styling choices. I’m thinking a morning outfit update would be fun, don’t you??

original photography for apartment 34 by suzanna scott

This post is in partnership with Zappos and Hunter Boots. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting partnerships that we’re excited about and that have kept Apartment 34’s doors open.

Share Your Flare this Weekend

Fashion

I’ve often been accused of being overly sentimental. I can have a hard time throwing things out. I kept a shoe box of notes passed in freshman algebra, books that I haven’t read in years but love, and clothes. My tendency to hold onto things has caused overstuffed drawers and overflowing closets. I’ve tried to get on the purge bandwagon – capsule wardrobes being the rage at the moment – but with fashion’s pendulum swing, I know it’s only a matter of time before styles from the past come back around.

Case in point, flared denim. I rocked this look hard circa… 2000 I’d say. Then the jeans had an had overly dramatic bell bottom – and a lot of sparkly butt pocket detailing. I was in college. It kinda worked. Ok, ok, probably not my best choice. But low and behold, after a decade of nothing but skinnies (with the occasional boyfriend jean) here comes flared denim again and I’m loving the modern update.

I snagged a new pair of Hudson Jeans from Zappos recently. I know a lot of people hesitate to buy jeans online but I haven’t been in a single store since Carter was born! Plus who ever has fun trying on jeans in a dressing room?? With free shipping and free returns (for a year – holla) you can order and try on to your heart’s content. It’s like Christmas everyday.

But back to these flares. I gotta say I’m into the look. Dark classic denim, understated detail, high waist and a bit of stretch – perfect for the upcoming holiday season. {As is my attempt at a fashion face in the pic below. Did I pull it off??}

If I was going to caution you about anything when it comes to this look, it helps to be taller than about 5’6″ or 5’7.” It can be hard to get the taper right if you’re petite. But if you can find the right fit, you’ll suddenly look six feet tall!

You know the adage. What once was old will become new again. As I round the corner heading further from 30 and closer to 40 this weekend – yes, I just typed four zero. gulp. – it feels a little odd to think about styles I wore in junior high being back in vogue (choker necklaces anyone?!). Thankfully, I think this flare look will stick around for quite some time. There will be no need to purge at the end of the season.

And that gives me ammunition when the husband asks why I need that walk-in closet in our new house.

what i’m wearing: hudson jeans | jcrew blazer | madewell scarf | celine bag | emerson fry pumps | sunnies | tw steel watch {similar}

original photography for apartment 34 by emily scott

Breaking the Rules with a Fresh Take on Plaid

Fashion

Fall is my favorite season for so many reasons. Refreshingly crisp air, tart Pink Lady apples and golden afternoon light – I can’t get enough it. But it’s also my favorite time of year for style. You get to layer again, play with texture and wear rich warm colors. Truth be told, I’ve had a hard time finding my style since having Carter. It may look like I’ve regained my pre-baby shape but things have…shifted shall we say. It’s been challenging to find things that fit well and feel good. Stepping back into my signature heels has felt like torture. And if it isn’t made of sweatshirt material it’s felt totally impractical.

But last week I decided I needed to do something to feel more like myself again.

I slipped back into my black skinny jeans (yes, it was a tight squeeze), pulled on some killer fall boots and got ready for a mama’s afternoon out. Of course it wouldn’t be Fall without a new coat! Since I’m rediscovering my pre-baby closet I’ve been pretty judicious about my purchases, but this Adam Lippes for Target plaid coat had me at hello. While I realize the whole 90’s plaid thing is having a comeback right now, I love how the jumbo size and soft color palette breaks the usual plaid rules. It feels sophisticated and modern rather than grunge-esque. Mama approved.

what i’m wearing: rag & bone jeans // vince knee-high boots // black blazer // celine bag // target plaid scarf // adam lippes for target mohair plaid coat // illesteva sunnies // vrai & oro rings

I’ve also never met a plaid scarf I didn’t like. They are the perfect fall accessory – not a ground breaking statement I realize, but they are the perfect way to perk up a tired closet without breaking the bank. And they’re easy to justify. You can use them to stay warm on chilly mornings and then they serve as the perfect amount of flair for the rest of the day. Throwing on a silky fringe plaid scarf in warm neutral tones made my look even more autumnal – and I love how the mix of plaids play so nicely with one another.

Getting out and about inspired me to start playing with pieces that are already in my closet too. Mixing tripes and plaid is another fun way to spice up your look without having to buy some crazy print you’d only wear once. I love the pop collar of the Target flannel blazer that I found. It’s box plaid is the perfect match for a striped turtleneck. I’d rock this look with jeans or even a skirt {!} and my favorite peep toe booties.

Needless to say, getting a little dressed up and out of the house for a couple of hours of window shopping definitely helped me get my style mojo back. Never mind that I was back in sweats about five minutes after getting home!

How are you breaking fall’s fashion rules? You can shop the rest of my fall favorites RIGHT HERE. You can see the rest of my personal style posts RIGHT HERE.

original photography for apartment 34 by suzzana scott

This post is brought to you by Target Style. Shop the new Apparel & Accessories collection in stores and online. Thoughts and opinions 100% my own. Thanks for supporting collaborations we’re excited about and sponsored content that keeps our doors open.

Real Talk With Real Moms: {Feeding}

Business of blogging

Today I’m excited to share the second installment of our Real Talk with Real Moms series. It kicked off last month with a discussion around sleep. At that time I was getting next to none and it was brutal. I’m pleased to report that Carter is now sleeping much better — thanks to sleep training. Yep, we bit the bullet and it was a total transformation and really not that bad. No, he’s not sleeping through the night, but I’m getting six hour stretches and it’s not taking 90 minutes to get him down and I’ll take it. I was actually thinking I should go back to that post and share all the nitty-gritty of our experience in one giant comment – if anyone’s interested {mention in the comments on this post if you are}! But for today’s posts, all the mamas are discussing their experiences with feeding our tiny little humans.

We have interesting relationships with food, don’t we? I don’t remember being a terribly picky eater as a kid. Sure I didn’t like tomatoes or avocado or black olives, but to my memory there weren’t screaming refusals at the dinner table, or hiding vegetables under my plate or anything. I remember generally enjoying most of what was put in front of me.

But as an adult who revels in food experiences and who won’t shy away from trying anything {save those black olives, still don’t like ’em!}, I find myself having a lot of anxiety about what my kid’s relationship to food will be – even though he’s only ever tasted breast milk! I think having a picky eater would just be miserable. Battles at the dinner table. Not being able to enjoy cooking. Having a freezer stocked with chicken fingers. I’ve given up so many aspects of my pre-baby life, having to give enjoying good food – and being able to share that experience with the people I care about most – feels like it could send me over the edge.

Of course there are all the health reasons why I want Carter to like food and be eager and willing to eat a wide variety of things. I have grandiose dreams of keeping boxed foods, microwavable snacks and gummy treats out of my kitchen. Yes, I already have a baby food maker just waiting for its inaugural use. And then there are the total extreme cases. I have a friend who’s little sister ate nothing but cereal for years! Of course I want to honor whatever my little dude’s personal tastes turn out to be, but if I’m truly being honest with myself, what I really want is to raise a mini foodie.

My favorite book on the subject thus far has been Bringing Up Bebe. That may be because it’s the only baby book I read prior to giving birth – ha! But regardless, in it, the author talks about how the French approach food with their children. In France there are no kid’s menus. Children don’t eat separately from the parents. Three course lunches that include things like fish, braised asparagus and stinky cheese are served to pre-schoolers – and they generally seem to not only eat it, but enjoy it all without fanfare. So why are we cutting hot dogs into bite sized chunks just to get some calories into our kids?

With the time to start solids rapidly approaching, I need to figure out how to kick this whole eating real food thing off and I really don’t want to screw it up! Yes, I’ve heard rumors about a few tricks of the food training trade. Introduce a food at least 10 times before a child can definitely indicate they don’t like it. Don’t offer fruit for quite some time so they don’t get overly used to sweetness. Pay attention to texture – that’s what could be unpalatable. But for the most part I’m flyin’ blind right now.

So to all those parents who have come before me, or to those of you who have simply read way more parenting books, I am seeking your advice! Any secrets to cultivating a little foodie hiding out there? I would be SO appreciative of any and all tips and tricks you’re willing to share. And of course I’ll glad share how that first introduction of real food goes. I think we might try it any day now.

For more thoughts and personal experiences on the trials and tribulations of feeding our littles – from breast feeding all the way up to toddler-dom, check out the rest of the mamas in this series below.

> The Effortless Chic

PS – we’ll be going on a mini-foodie adventure in wine country this weekend and I’ll be sharing it on Snapchat. Follow apartment34 if you’d like to see where we end up!

image one by michelle drewes // image two by bess friday image three by luisa brimble

Finally Talkin’ About Being a Mama

Fashion

Today I’m so excited to launch a new series with a group of seriously rad mamas. As I’ve mentioned before, I haven’t wanted to inundate you with mom content, but when Jen Pinkston, the wonder-mom behind the lovely lifestyle blog The Effortless Chic, asked me to join a seriously cool group of mamas talking about the issues we face, I jumped at the chance. I knew this would be an interesting series with a wonderful group of blogger babes. The concept? We’ll all wax poetic on a specific mama-hood related topic, thereby giving you the opportunity to see a wide variety of perspectives, weigh in and hopefully add some new blogs to your reader in the process. As one of the newest members of the blogger mama club, I’m personally very intrigued to see what this diverse group of women has to say about each issue.

We’re starting off with a topic that could not be more relevant to my current reality: SLEEP!

Or in my case, the complete lack thereof. When you’re pregnant everyone warns you to sleep as much as possible. I certainly did my best. At the end of my pregnancy I was sleeping in until 11AM on Saturdays like a teenager! It was glorious. Now I know what you think I’m going to say next. The baby was born and all hell broke loose. Well, sure, the first couple of weeks were rough, I won’t lie. But then our little stud began sleeping 8-10 hours a night. It was bliss. Other mothers hated me. I loved it. I could totally handle one 4:00 am feeding and feel like a nearly functioning human {save the recovering from a 27-hour natural labor, but that is another story for another day!}.

But then the 4-month sleep regression hit. Yes, it’s predictable. Yes, we were warned. But no, I was not prepared for how brutal three, four or even five awakenings a night would be. Let alone the taking an hour+ to get our little ~~terror~~ angel down to bed each evening. Now I truly see the value of sleep because you start to go rather insane without it! I feel like I’m living in that hangry Snickers commercial, but no amount of candy bars is going to cure my sleep deprivation rage. And then there’s the memory loss. And the inability to stay awake past 9:00 pm. Or have a social life. Or a functioning relationship. You get my point – this isn’t good!

But I’m at a bit of an impasse. I’m on week five of basically no sleep with no end in sight. Yes, everyone has told me to sleep train at this point. Carter is four months old, he’s 16lbs, he’s ready yada yada yada. So after hearing so many stories of triumph I bit the bullet and tried it this week. I lasted one night. I threw in the towel when Carter started throwing up out of his nose after less than 15 minutes! I’m sorry, but cry it out is not my jam.

So now I’m turning to you, dear readers. Do you have magic elixirs to cure the no sleep disease? Secret tips and tricks that turned your child into a sleeping wonder? Any words of advice about how to survive through this period? I know it will get better. I know I will remember my own name again, but the future seems bleak when you’re in the thick of it.

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to comment here or join the conversation with the hashtag #realmomseries. I’m also thinking about taking my mama-musings to Snapchat. Would you be interested in some more off the cuff thoughts and a little behind the scenes of life with le bebe?? If so, check it out at apartment34.

Here are the rest of the fabulous mamas who are talking about their trials and tribulations with sleep. You should be sure to check them out today!

> The Effortless Chic

> The Daily Something

The Power of the 15-Minute Mama Break

Fashion

So, I haven’t posted about my new reality around here much. This is partly because I don’t want to inundate all of you design & style loving readers with “mom-blog” stuff and partly because I’ve really only begun to process this whole new job title I’ve taken on. But now that our little Carter is four months old {time is legit FLYING!}, I do feel like I’ve made a few good discoveries about my new role as mama that I want to share with you {is it weird that I just cannot call myself a mom. Cannot.}. I have quickly come to appreciate facts like takeout six nights a week is a-okay, the Amazon app is awesome at 3:00 am and showers are overrated.

But in all seriousness, as I slowly but surely get the hang of life with le bebe, there’s one thing I’ve come to truly appreciate — downtime — no matter how short-lived it might be! See, Carter isn’t much of a napper. He subsists on power naps {just like his papa}, which means I’ve had to learn to subsist on 30 minute chunks of downtime during the day, max. And once you factor in running to pee, getting a drink of water and maybe putting in your contact lenses you’re already down to 15 minutes of quiet time. But hey, I’ll take em and thankfully, I think I’ve figured out how to make the most of them too.

Once I get Carter down for a nap {that part is actually pretty easy. A little light swaddling, pop in his pacificer and some white noise and he’ll usually drop off quite quickly}, I try to maximize my me-time with something that is truly fulfilling. Sure, in the first few weeks right after Carter was born, I just trolled Instagram or Facebook or maybe returned one email, but I quickly realized that hopping on my phone did not help recharge my batteries, only increased my stress levels and made the time fly by in an instant. So now I make a concerted effort to partake in some old school analog activities that truly help me decompress.

What To Do with 15 Minutes of Downtime

> Write a note. It’s a little tough to have a meaningful phone conversation when you’re listening with one ear for your baby’s cries, so I decided to resurrect the art of the hand written note! Everyone loves getting mail right? Jotting down two or three sentence of heartfelt sentiment makes me feel as good, if not better, than the card’s recipient!

> Read. I was warned that I should read as much as possible before Carter was born and it’s true – my brain capacity is so limited right now I cannot make my way through a book. But my backlog of magazines on the otherhand – I can totally indulge in an article, maybe even two, from my favorite glossies. Even just thumbing through some good editorial helps me feel connected to the outside world.

> Jot down memories. I wanted to be one of those mamas who creates an over the top baby book, but alas that just isn’t me. So instead I’m following my own mom’s advice – whenever Carter does something new, I simply write a sentence or two about it in a notebook. The first smile, giggle, funny noise or silly game. It’s not some fancy bound book but it will help me look back and remember all the milestones that happen during these sleep-deprived times.

> Exercise. Yes, you can work out in 15 minutes or less! I had a fellow mama-friend recommend the 7-minute Workout app as the best way to begin to get back in post-baby shape. As you gain strength you can even do it twice a day. I’m totally hooked!

> Absolutely nothing. It’s amazing how refreshing 15 minutes of simple stillness can be. You don’t even have to actually nap. Maybe you meditate a little. Maybe you enjoy a cup of tea. Maybe you simply sit and look out the window. But a little bit of dedicated decompression can do wonders once you hit the witching hour, have no idea how you’re going to get your baby to sleep or any clue how many times you’ll be woken up that night. I’m all for grabbing a slice of serenity anywhere I can find it.

Oh and my favorite thing about the Latch pacifier? I can usually put it back in {it has an adorable little ribbon that attaches to Carter’s clothes so it can’t get lost} and get an extra 15 minutes! On those days I actually shower – score!

I do hope those with wee-ones found this post helpful or at least can relate to my current reality! And for those of you far from having babies, finding 15 minutes in your day to relax is really beneficial to anyone so I hope these tips might prove useful for you too!

first image by michelle drewes, rest of photography taken by me during one of my 15 minutes of downtime!

This post is in partnership with Munchkin and their Latch Pacifiers. Designed with pediatric dentists and moms, Latch Pacifiers are lightweight, easy for a baby to hold in its mouth and one piece so the germs don’t get built up in the tiny cracks. They are available online and at Target. Thoughts & opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting collaborations that keep our doors open!

Retail Therapy: {Lou & Grey}

Fashion

I’ve got to confess, there’ve been a few things I’ve been missing while pregnant – big time. Not gonna lie, the list ~~starts with~~ includes enjoying a really nice bottle of wine, sashimi, seeing my feet, but also shopping. Simply looking without touching lost its luster a long time ago and so I’ve generally held off on any retail therapy because really – what’s the point?? Even if something were to fit in the moment, that doesn’t mean it’ll fit in a week! But I recently decided that some quality girl time was in order, so I called on my gal Jeanne to take a trip to Lou & Grey with me. As soon as we crossed the threshold, I thought I’d died and stepped into retail therapy heaven!

While I’d heard of Lou & Grey due to their partnership with Loft, I was pleasantly surprised to learn one of only three dedicated Lou & Grey boutiques recently opened on Santana Row in San Jose. While a bit of a jaunt from San Francisco, it was well worth the drive. We walked into what I can only describe as a “spa like” shopping atmosphere. This store is seriously gorgeous!

The space is designed beautifully in soothing grays and soft whites with fabulous copper accent lighting, curated art collections and a great selection of local artisanal items ranging from bath products, to chic home accessories, to jewelry. It was quite the little treasure trove in there.

And then there are the clothes of course! I’d describe the Lou & Grey collection as plused up basics. Think cool slouchy tees, structured boxy sweatshirts, menswear inspired button downs and on trend jeans. I was really impressed with the exceptional attention to modern cuts, cool silhouettes and fun details like drop shoulders, interesting stitching or killer pockets. Sure, I was still a bit limited in what pieces would work with my current shape, but that didn’t stop me from filling my dressing room! Jeanne and I both had a tough time narrowing down our choices, but you may have spied my final selection in the recap of my baby shower earlier this week! I’ve never met a jumpsuit I didn’t love, especially one that I could fit into at nearly 9-months pregnant!!

shop my look: white button down, black jeans, sunnies {for $15!}, hat {similar}

I’m already so excited about the Lou & Grey goodies I picked. Be sure to check on Instagram later today for a sneak peek at some of my finds. And I’m counting down the days until I can go back and get this shirt dress. Well, let’s be honest, and probably half of the store too! Did I mention that Lou & Grey is also crazy affordable? Like prices so low you look twice to make sure you’re getting that number right. I’ve already started compiling my list of faves below. Good thing I’ve cleaned out a lot of room in my closet!

[show_shopthepost_widget id=”584375″]

In the mood for more Retail Therapy?? CLICK HERE

original photography for apartment 34 by ashley batz

This post is in partnership with Lou & Grey. All thoughts and opinions are 100% our own. Thank you for supporting collaborations that we’re excited about and that keep Apartment 34’s doors open!

3 Ways to Rock Maternity Jeans in Style!

Fashion

As I enter the final few weeks of pregnancy – yup, it’s gone that fast! – I’ve officially hit the “how the heck to do I style this thing” phase. I relied on my standard oversized tops and skinnies to camouflage the bump for a very very long time, but there’s just no avoiding full-on maternity clothes at nearly 9-months along.

Thankfully, maternity jeans are coming to my rescue. I pretty much wear jeans everyday so the thought of having to give them up was definitely leaving me with the “I’ve got nothing to wear” blues. But I don’t mean it in the way girls usually say it. At 34+ weeks pregnant, it’s for real! Looking at my closet is becoming a bit torturous. It’s like that saying: “water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink!” {I’ve since moved out everything that no longer fits – highly recommend. My plan is to be rather ruthless about what makes it back in!}. That’s where DL1961 Maternity Jeans stepped in. From classic blue skinnies to great ankle crops, I suddenly have my wardrobe back and I haven’t felt like I have to give up “me.”

what i’m wearing: zara poncho, asos white sleeveless button down, clare v. clutch, chloe sandals {similar}

I’m kinda obsessed with the white Angel Maternity Jean. I’m a big fan of wearing white all year long and these jeans still feel so good. They have the hidden stretch panels at the pockets instead of the over the belly fabric, which I have to say hasn’t been my jam. I’ve found that the over-the-belly pairs don’t hold their shape and they definitely don’t stay up well! And constantly tugging at your jeans is not a good look, no matter what size you are. I love how the DL1961s are super comfortable, super flattering and feel like I’m wearing normal jeans. Feeling as normal as possible is a big perk when you have an alien invading your body.

what i’m wearing: stella mccartney blazer {similar}, alexander wang top {similar} , tibi boots, philip lim mini pashli bag

The classic blue Amanda jean is that pair that everyone woman should have in their closet. Yes, I already had multiple pairs of skinny blues, but when you get to the point where there’s no chance they’ll zip up, this is the perfect alternative. I simply ordred my regular jean size and they fit great. No pinching, no pulling, plenty of stretch but they still have a nice shape.

what i’m wearing: everlane sweatshirt, mina + olya overcoat {similar} , vince sneakers, the common knowledge bone bag, illesteva sunnies

Nothing makes me feel more chic than wearing black. Apparently, I should have been a New Yorker. And if you’re like me, and admittedly, not a huge bump enthusiast, black is your style BFF! It does a great job camouflaging. I don’t know why I’m not into my belly being so out there – even though it certainly is out there now. This is why I love my black DL1961 ankle jeans. From business meetings to my last few brunches sans kid, I strongly suspect I’m going to be living in these babies.

I’m just thrilled to know I still have good style options at the ready even as my belly grows by the day. I promise I’ll share a few more looks with you before it’s all done!

PS: for all you mamas-to-be out there, you can save 20% on DL1961 today with the code DL20!

original photography for apartment 34 by emily scott // styling by erin hiemstra

This post is in partnership with DL1961. All thoughts and opinons expressed are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting collaborations we’re excited about and help keep Apartment 34’s doors open!

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