linkup – the Whitney Michaels blog

Color Inspiration | October 2017

October 5, 2017favorites, motherhood, style, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

Black is so classic. It’s neutral, it’s strong, it’s bold, it’s clean, and it’s slimming! What’s not to love? Whether your wardrobe consists of mostly black, you love the rich look of a black car, or you’re just in the Halloween sprit – I think it is safe to say black may be the most popular color overall. Sharon from Mama Chit Chat and I are hosting our monthly link up to share what is inspiring us this month – B L A C K. Grab the graphic below and share what’s inspiring you by using the link tool!

black manicure. I used to think black was too bold for my nails, or that it was only for rock n’ roll chicks. Now when fall rolls around, I see October as the perfect excuse for a moody mani! You?

black tank. I could probably wear some version of a black tank, tee, or long sleeve everyday if I let myself. It’s easy, goes with pretty much any bottom, and typically always flattering. The tassels on this tank give it something a little extra and I think helps transition from summer to our Southern California “fall”. I couldn’t find this one online (I got it at Old Navy in the middle of summer) but this one is super cute with the lace detail!

p.s. I was wearing this same tank at the pumpkin patch too!

dolce vita black

black sandals. I think I mentioned these in a past Five on Friday post and I still love them! They’re easy to slip on, comfortable, and still look like a step up from just your average flip flop.

Rainstone

black diffuser. I cannot wait to set this up in our soon to be industrial farm inspired office! I’ve had my eye on the Rainstone diffuser since I started with Young Living and I can’t believe I actually own it!

black bike. I am so excited to finally have a beach cruiser! I am looking forward to just riding around the neighborhood, to our sisters’ houses, and especially to bring it camping. We’ve been wanting to be able to ride the kids around and explore when we go places so I cannot wait to test it out! The girls loved being pulled around in the trailer the other day, so I hope that lasts!

Have a wonderful October and hope you found some inspiration in all of my B L A C K things! Grab the graphic below and link up with us (open for a week)! We’d love to read and support one another! If you’ve missed past months, you can catch up here:

August | September

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

xoxo

Whitney

Color Inspiration | September 2017

September 7, 2017September 7, 2017Uncategorized3 Comments

Color inspiration is a monthly link up brought to you by Sharon from Mama Chit Chat and myself at The Whitney Michaels Blog. We would love for you to join and link up to share all the BLUE that is inspiring you this month! This is the second edition – if you missed the first you can read it here.

September is here and its full of changes. Changes in schedules, in the season, and the weather (hopefully). Over here in Southern California we are still in full summer heat and the girls and I are soaking up the last few weeks of the season. Blue is the perfect color right now.

BLUE | I bought this dress on clearance at the Gap when Aubrey was just a baby, and I remember thinking how big it was and that it would be so far away that she could actually wear it. Well that went quick, she’s already almost too tall for it! (obviously the dress isn’t online since I bought it so long ago, but this adorable dress with blue embroidery would perfect to add a denim jacket to and transition to fall – and there’s a sale right now!)

BLUE | In a perfect world, I would love to have a light colored couch! Cream, white…basically anything that would get destroyed by two toddlers. Since that obviously isn’t happening, I’m getting my fix in by updating our pillows. Our home decor is mostly neutrals, but I love adding blue around as an accent! I found a couple of burlap looking ones and navy blue at Marshall’s a couple of weeks ago and I love it. I think they can easily transition to fall with the addition of some orange and be good in winter too with forest green or red?

BLUE | Like the water. With Aubrey doing swimming lessons, she is always asking to go swimming at Grandma’s house! We are spending as much time as possible in the water while the weather is still beautiful enough for it!

BLUE | Speaking of the pool – let’s talk about how late I am to the “summer body” idea. I just did a post about my new found motivation and the cute Workout Essentials I bought and I’ve probably mentioned that for the past three years I’ve been either pregnant or breastfeeding and I’ve used that as an excuse to let myself indulge – actually I don’t even think it could be called that at this point. Indulging is something you do now and then. I just eat whatever and don’t move enough! But I’ve almost completely weaned Blake and I’m ready to feel strong, in shape, and to feel like I have some control of my body again! I pulled out our old box of “workout stuff” and popped in the p90x DVD earlier this week. And oh did it hurt so good. That program is a bit tough for me since the workouts are so long, and what mama has time for that?! I had noticed a friend of mine kicking booty and taking her health and fitness seriously (you can follow along with her too on Instagram) and she reached out to me at the perfect time! She’s going to be my extra push of motivation and accountability as I incorporate fitness back into my routine! I can’t wait to update you on what I think about the Beachbody workouts! They can be accessed anywhere and there are TONS of video and program options! (You can ask Mallory about any of the details – she’s super helpful! Or just jump in with her too here) Anyway, long story longer, this BLUE logo is going to be a big inspiration for me starting this month! I’ll share some of the fun on my InstaStories during nap time workouts!

9bc2a4f5-8813-43aa-a21a-f85153c575ed-915-000000c2716a46f1

I hope your September is full of inspiration and that you have an amazing end to your summer! BLUE is definitely my color and I loved sharing with you! Click the link below to add your BLUE post (open for a week) and we can’t wait to have you for all things BLACK and spooky in October!

Grab the graphic below to add to your post and share!

Link Up!

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…its a great way to find new blogs and be found!

xoxo

Whitney

Best Day Ever | Show and Tell Tuesday

August 29, 2017motherhood, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

Have you ever dreamed of your perfect day? Probably includes a tropical destination or sleeping in half the day, maybe? I’ve always been a homebody, but now more than ever in this season of life does a slow and quiet day sound the best.

On the Best Day Ever, I would wake up feeling rested…maybe 8 am? Not too late, because we don’t want to waste the precious hours of this day – but not too early, because, well…mama needs some sleep! The coffee would be ready for me to pour and drink HOT with just the right amount of vanilla creamer and my hubby would have already cooked the bacon outside on the BBQ so the whole house didn’t stink! We would all eat pancakes (chocolate chip, obviously), bacon, and eggs. The girls would keep all of their food either on the plate or in their mouth – not the floor! After breakfast – the girls would play, the kitchen would get perfectly cleaned by someone other than me, and I’d go shower and get ready. Not just rinse off and put on mascara…no no. A full shower – shave, shampoo, the works! I’d do my hair and wear just enough makeup to make me feel good. When I was done, the girls would also be ready with the diaper bag packed – again, by someone other than me. Do you notice a theme?

We would all go out as a family, somewhere that we could walk, shop, play, and have lunch. Probably the Ventura Harbor. The weather would be cool enough to wear sweaters but warm enough for sandals, partly cloudy and definitely no wind! Lunch would have to be at Andria’s Seafood – fish and chips is one of our favorites from there!

After lunch we head home for the girls to nap. I’d get out to get my nails or hair done – I love having a fresh cut and manicure! In the afternoon we would have some friends and family over to BBQ. I love to spend time on our patio and all sitting together at a big table for dinner. Carne asada tacos, fresh guac with chips, and Corona’s or Margarita’s for everyone!

The girls would have baths after dinner, read books with their aunties and go to bed without a fight at 7:30. The adults would listen to music, hang out by the fire pit, and keep the margaritas flowing. By 10:00 I’d be in the softest jammies ever from Old Navy (like these) and in bed with freshly cleaned sheets. Does the “Best Day Ever” continue into the night? If so, I’d sleep. All night. Uninterrupted.

I feel more relaxed just thinking about it all! What would you do for your Best Day Ever? You can link up with Andrea at Momfessionals.com.

Happy Tuesday!

Whitney

Show and Tell Tuesday Graphic

Five on Friday

July 21, 2017August 9, 2017five on friday, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

The weekend is fast approaching, yet again! I love rounding up the week with 5 things we liked/did/ate! Follow the links at the end to linkup with April, Christina, and Natasha!

one | A sweet friend of mine came over to take some photos for me so I can have clearer profile and introduction photos. Let me say, attempting to take solo photos was one of the weirdest experiences! What did we discover? The more awkward you feel, the better the picture is going to be! Haha…anyone else feel like that? Looking at all those fashion bloggers and everything they make it look so easy to look cute. Not the case. Definitely could use some more practice (maybe when we don’t have 4 toddlers under the age of 3 running around!) but it was a fun first attempt!

two | I got this Nuby popsicle mold two years ago to make breastmilk popsicles for Aubrey during her first summer. Now, I love that the molds are small and perfect for a toddler treat! We’ve been making them using yogurt and its the perfect treat for a hot summer afternoon! And its small enough that I don’t mind if she has it before dinner and she can finish it before it gets too melty!

three | I’m sure you’ve seen it, heard it shouted from the rooftops 850 times, but…the Nordstrom Sale is happening! And its open to everyone now! Have you purchased any amazing deals? I’ve shopped and put like a million things in my cart, but haven’t made any purchases yet. I find it hard to shop for fall things when its like 100 degrees outside! But here’s a few things I’m loving:

booties | black long sleeve | peep toe bootie | cardigan

four | For Christmas my parents got me a 50mm lens for my Canon and I absolutely LOVE it! But I’ve been looking into a wider angle lens to be able to easier photograph a larger area, like a room or other areas in my house. After reading a little bit, I think I’m leaning towards a 35mm. These are definitely a bit more of an investment though! I’d love to know if you have one and if you love it enough to be worth the investment? I’m clearly not a professional, but I love learning about photography and experimenting to get better!

five | Next week my baby turns ONE! How has this year gone by so fast?! I cannot wait to celebrate her and have a fiesta with our friends and family! I’ve started a party planning post that I’m excited to share!

Hope you guys have a happy friYAY and a wonderful weekend!

Be sure to catch April, Christina, and Natasha!

Five on Friday

July 14, 2017July 14, 2017five on friday, Uncategorized1 Comment

On Monday it seems as though the week will never end and by Friday I always wonder where it went! How can that be? I love rounding up the week with 5 things we liked/did/ate! Follow the links at the end to linkup with April, Christina, and Natasha!

one | now that we’ve landscaped and finally have some greenery in our backyard I’ve noticed so much more wildlife! Bugs, birds, butterfly’s…and Aubrey has noticed too! I just knew she would be excited to get a hummingbird feeder and I was right! Over the weekend we got one at Lowes and she helped me make sugar water to pour in. (4 parts water to 1 part sugar) It took about 4 days to see our first hummingbirds but even before then every time we went outside or even look out the slider she reminded me about pouring the sugar in the boiling water and giving it to the birds. So cute! We’ve already seen one this morning and she wants to “go out there to say HI!”

two | I told you about our trip to Costco last weekend, and we not only got salmon but halibut too! I made a delicious baked recipe that I found on Pinterest. I highly recommend it! It may not be the healthiest version, but it’s nice to change it up now and again from just plain seasoning! We all loved it…girls included (with some ketchup for Aubrey, obviously) The original recipe is by Port and Fin and she took some beautiful photos…unlike these!

three | I have to admit that I am awful when it comes to putting my outfits together! Unfortunately I’d rather get an extra 15 minutes of sleep than worry about my wardrobe. But this needs to change! I notice I feel so much better when I feel like I make an effort and I’ve started collecting some basics that will help me feel polished but still be comfortable! Thanks to Kate from the Small Things Blog I found a couple pairs of sandals and some tennies from DSW that will do just that! (I love watching her InstaStories!) I’ve never shopped there but really liked the shop online and pick up in person option! More convenient than strolling the endless aisles of shoes with 2 kids!

beige sneaker | black sandals | blush sandals | sneakers

four | Aubrey had her first swim lesson this week and it went fairly well! She spent a lot of time negotiating with the teacher and telling her the rules in Grandma’s pool, but she also did really well blowing bubbles and learning to “monkey crawl” her hands along the edge of the wall! I’m super excited for her to have some more awareness in the water and to learn some water safety! I posed some pics on my Instagram too!

five | Lastly is something we definitely aren’t loving…Anyone have any tips for getting mushrooms out of their grass? We just recently laid sod and we’ve been told the combination of the stuff they put in the soil plus this weird hot and humid weather we are getting can cause them to grow. Literally, EVERYWHERE! And we have to hand pick them before we mow or they’ll spread. The worst!

Hope you guys have a happy friYAY and a wonderful weekend!

Be sure to catch April, Christina, and Natasha!

Five on Friday

June 29, 2017June 30, 2017five on friday, Uncategorized2 Comments

I love linking up with women whom I follow and am inspired by – it is a great way to connect! 5 on Friday is a fun way to share a few things we are doing, places we’re loving, recipes we are eating, or things I’m finding inspiring! Happy FriYAY!

one| Just in case you haven’t heard, I’m a gal who loves her some office supplies! Planners, pens, notebooks, sticky notes, books – basically anything that helps me feel organized. It’s also a major bonus when it looks pretty and ends up being functional! You don’t want to know the amount of planners or journals I’ve purchased that I end up putting in a drawer after the first couple weeks! Enter Erin Condren. She and I have been in the longest committed planner relationship I’ve ever been in and I’m in love! I currently use 2 planners, one for everyday/personal/family things (neutral hourly) and one for my essential oils and blogging (neutral deluxe monthly). I’m so excited to have ordered my NEW one for next year (although let’s be real, I may move into it earlier!). I got a different format – the neutral vertical – and I’m hoping to combine both my personal and “business” books!

two| For a girl who loves to plan so much you’d think I’d be a meal planning machine, right? Nope. This is something I try so hard to be good at, but it always falls to the end of the list. I tend to be the type that runs to the store every-every other day or starts scouring the freezer for something easy at 5:00! A super easy meal that I always have on hand is tamales with beans and rice and/or salad! I always have beans and rice in the pantry, and the girls are always down for a quesadilla or bean and cheese burrito! These tamales are fresh, but freeze so well and are super yummy! I’ve found them at Pavillions and Costco! Perfect last minute meal!

three|Water Play! Summer has been in full effect for the past couple of weeks in So Cal, and the only way we’ve been making it outside is with a little H2O! The pool at Grandma’s, the splash pad with friends (love hanging with Sharon from Mama Chit Chat), or the water table under the patio have been our go-to’s! I’m loving the swimsuits I got for the girls a couple of months ago! Aubrey’s one shoulder is from the Gap outlet and Blake’s striped one is Babies r Us.

four|even though summer is not so different from the rest of the year for us (I don’t drop off the girls anywhere), the days are still longer and the heat seems to make them crazier and me more exhausted! The regularly scheduled things we do together (gymnastics and mommy and me) take a break so its up to me to get us up, out, and moving! A friend invited us on a little field trip this morning and we had so much fun feeding and learning about Alpacas at Alpacas and Beyond! If you’re in the area I highly recommend contacting Kim for a fun group outing!

five| I did some shopping in the LC by Lauren Conrad and juniors sections at Kohls the other day, and I’m loving the off the shoulder trend finds I picked up! Chambray, Coral, Gingham

Have a wonderful weekend!

Be sure to catch April, Christina, and Natasha!

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things {stocking stuffers}

November 25, 2014June 29, 2017favorites, Uncategorized2 Comments

we are one week closer to Christmas and its Thanksgiving in 2 days! the time is flying and I’ve already done some shopping! what’s next on the list? filling my hubby’s stocking! he always does such a good job finding my favorite little things at target and even sneaks in some awesome gifts! I’m already excited to buy a new stocking for our little miss for next year and fill it with goodies, so I’m trying to put some extra thought into Todd’s this year before the little girl take-over in 2015!

this is week 2 of {My Favorite Things}, a linkup with April, Elise, Katie, & Zelle.

Start {here} if you missed week 1: My Favorite Things {my list}

{for her}

one. state wine bottle stopper

I’m really loving the apparel and items geared towards your home state! this would go perfect with a state shaped cutting board for the hostess or a shirt from the Home T!

two. monogram necklace

monograms are everywhere. gold is everywhere. and what girl doesn’t love Kate Spade?! this necklace is cute on its own, or layered with longer ones!

three. iPhone case

although I didn’t jump on the iPhone 6 bandwagon just yet, I’m sure there are many many people that have and a new case {especially an adorable one with gold polka dots} is sure to

four. lipgloss

holiday lipgloss sets are so fun and useful for all those holiday parties! this Smashbox “on the rocks” set is even on sale at Nordstrom!

not pictured. the favorites

like chapstick, yummy candy, nail polish, bobby pins and small amount gift cards! it’s always fun to know that special person notices all the everyday items that you use and love! I can never have too much chapstick or too many bobby pins! a $5 Starbucks gift card never hurts either to buy your fave holiday drink!

{for him}

one. whiskey cubes

something to add to the bar collection of a whiskey drinker! I know my dad would be all over these!

two. iPhone case

same as for her. new. phones. everywhere.

three. bottle opener

fun for the guy with a man cave, backyard patio or just enjoys a cold beer on the weekends! Williams-Sonoma has a few cute novelty mounted bottle openers like the mustache {pictured}, a bulldog, a skull or an anchor.

four. cologne

cologne is something my husband wouldn’t go out on his own and buy himself. we’ve shopped the counters before and he’s given opinions, but I typically try to make notes and buy it for him later! a new scent is appropriate for the holiday parties and a fresh start to the new year!

not pictured. the favorites

again, just like us gals, guys have those fun little things that make it easy to personalize and fill the empty spaces in their stocking! chapstick, scratchers or lotto tickets, a cigar or my husband’s addiction, gum!

head over to one of these gal’s blogs to join the link-up!

week 2 of the linkup series with April, Elise, Katie, & Zelle!

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things {my list}

November 18, 2014June 29, 2017favorites, Uncategorized7 Comments

the holidays are coming up fast and I’m welcoming them with open arms {and Jessica Simpson Holiday Pandora already}! I’m so excited to link up with April, Elise, Katie, Zelle these next 3 weeks to share A Few of My Favorite Things for 2014!

This is Todd and I’s last year as a party of 2 and it’s a bittersweet feeling to know our holidays will never be the same {although I’m sure so so much better}! gone will be the focus on the two of us – and we will welcome the first time experience of the holidays through our little girl’s eyes, which I cannot wait for! until then, I’ll be keeping this year’s list about “wifey-Whitney”, not “new-mommy-Whitney” quite yet!

one. michael kors purse

I may be trading my designer bag for a diaper bag very soon, but I’ve loved this Michael Kors satchel for so long and I’m obsessed with this pale gold color!

two. bump nest pillow case

although this is a little mommy-related, this pillow is my life saver right now and my pillow case needs some love after so many washes and the daily wear!

three. monogram coffee mugs

I may be late on the monogram coffee mug band wagon, but I just love these from Anthropologie, or these gold ones from William Sonoma!

four. mac book pro

obviously a big ticket item, but I’m dreaming of the day I have a macbook! my laptop is just not cutting it and I’d love to have this beauty!

five. vince camuto boots

its almost winter, and who doesn’t love a pair of boots {especially when my shoes have been the only reliable item of “clothing” that have consistently fit me lately}. these over the knee boots

head over to one of these gal’s blogs to join the link-up!

week 1 of the linkup series with April, Elise, Katie, & Zelle!