Style Lush

Momma And Kid Day. Also Known As The Best Way To Get Your Kid Talking

by Kristie

Raise your hand if you've got a moody 16-year-old teenager that speaks in only throaty grunts and annoying eye rolls. You can't see me but I AM RAISING MY HAND. I have a generally sweet, kind and funny 16-year-old son,  but he thinks I'm uncool and that I can't relate to him at all, ever. (I seem to remember the same thing about my mom, Hi Mom!)

I have devised a few different ways to get my kid to talk to me and he doesn't even suspect it. I sequester my kid and for some strange reason those are the times he talks to me the most.

Yesterday we went kayaking at a local lake and he talked and talked and talked some more. We talked about his strained relationship with his dad, his girlfriend troubles and school stuff. I really enjoy listening to his point of view and I'll tell you something, being in the middle of the water with nowhere to go he just opens right up.

 

There are SO MANY ways I've found to spend time with my sweet kid to get him to open up if he needs to:

• We both have mountain bikes so we drive to the trails and ride for a while. We don't get a lot of talking time while riding but we bond and exercise together and I think that's important.
• I'll fill up our Camelbaks with water and we go hiking for an hour or two. It's perfect because he's all mine for the entire ride there, through the hiking, and then back home.
• I take him grocery shopping with me but instead of going to the closest grocery store we drive a bit further so he's stuck in the car with me longer. I'm sneaky. Ha!
• I just joined a gym and added him to my membership so we can go together. Chances are we'll use different machines but I'm hoping that doing that activity together will form that bond even tighter.

There are so many ways (free or not) to spend a day with your kid. I highly recommend finding whatever works for you and your spawn and stick with it. I will never regret spending the day with my son making memories and hopefully when he's older he'll appreciate our time together.

Q and A a Day: 5-Year Journal

By Kristie

For my birthday I got this great little bedside book called Q and A a Day: 5-Year Journal. Everyday for 5 years you answer a question, the same question every year. Some of the questions include: What was the last book you read? What can you smell right now? What motivated you today? What is your motto? A chore you put off today? What gives you comfort right now? 

 
The range of questions is great and I'm looking forward to seeing how my answers change from year to year.

{Image courtesy Amazon.com}

Great Online Exercise Finder

By Kristie

I've been on the prowl for somewhere either online or in print form where I can find specific exercises at a glance. In an effort to strengthen my neck from an old car accident I wanted arm, neck and shoulder exercises. Y'all, I found a great (free!) resource that's online and so easy to use.

First you select the area you want to workout (I choose shoulders).

 

Next you choose which of the exercises you want to do.

I love that you can see the exercise being performed.

 

Many exercises require just you and your own body to do the work.
 

While others are shown using weights. Your choice!
 
What a great resource for those of us who want many choices or maybe just some a new ideas for mixing up our workout routine. I hope this information will help you reach your goals. Now, get to picking an exercise.

{All images courtesy Divine.Ca}

Ikabags: My Favorite Handmade Bags

By Kristie

All of these bags are handmade by a lovely French woman named Feyza. She lives and makes these bags in Paris. Oh la la! I own the bag on the top right of this photo collection. I ordered this bag to be my carry-on for an international flight I took last year and I've since used it for a thousand other things. It's the best carry-all bag I've ever owned. Feyza clearly takes great care in producing a quality product. There are a ton of pockets and it's water resistant. Any of these bags could be used as diaper bags, also.

If you're in the market for a well-made, chic bag, I HIGHLY recommend checking out Ika bags on Etsy. I just know you'll be pleased like I was/am.

{Photos courtesy Ika Etsy shop} 

A Dress I Love: O'Neill Tough Love Dress

By Kristie

 
Here's the thing about this dress, it looks really short in this photo, I know. But it's actually not that short, I promise. I bought this on a whim at a beach shop in Corpus Christi last weekend because I thought it was just so cute and lord knows I'll never get to buy one of those cute little bikini's in my lifetime so I compromised.

You can't tell from this photo but the back has straps across the top of the dress so it's got that little something extra. It's lightweight for summer but could easily be worn with tights, boots and a warm cardigan for fall or winter. It also comes in navy.

This week I'm going to throw on a wide belt, some dainty jewelry, a killer pair of flats with this little summery dress. I might also pretend I'm still by the beach.

{Image courtesy KillerDana.com}

Obsessed: White Sunglasses

By Kristie

You'd be embarrassed for me if you knew how many pairs of sunglasses I own in all different shapes and colors. I get fixated on a certain shape or color and seem to collect those specific kinds of shades until I get fixated on a new shape or color. These days I'm sort of loving white sunglasses. So far, I only own one pair but I'm in the market for another pair or two.

If you could help me by picking one pair which would it be?

 
Clockwise, from top left:

Marc by Marc Jacobs, $110; Vonzipper, $70

Lacoste, $128; Jessica Simpson, $40

{Images courtesy of each respective website}

Dressing Myself: Beach Edition

by Kristie

I'm absolutely dying to go to the beach. I want to walk on the sand with no shoes, collect seashells, watch my kids make sandcastles and read a book while hearing the gentle waves come up on shore. I can't make it to the beach easily but I sure can create an outfit I think would be perfect for soaking up the sun with a little bit of style, of course.

I can just feel the breeze right now...

 

Chiffon shirt, $31.99; Shorts, $16.50; Floppy Hat, $44; Necklace, $78, Bangle Bracelets, $32; Gold flats, $63; Handbag, $21

Save Your Pits: Secret Clinical Strength

by Kristie

So here in Texas we're coming close to breaking records in the heat department. We're had over 20 days of 100+ degree temps. It's like Hell, only hotter. Obviously when it's hotter than the surface of the sun you tend to sweat and that sweat can smell something fierce so I had to do something about it. During the winter I use regular strength deodorant but during the summer I've starting using Secret Clinical Strength Antiperspirant & Deodorant.

 
Y'all, this stuff works like a dream. I'm relatively dry, smell fresh as a daisy and I don't have to re-apply a hundred times for it to work. It's a little pricey ($8-10, depending on where you get it) but it really works like a dream.

I swear, your pits will thank you and so will your friends.

{Photo credit: Drugstore.com}

New Favorite Nail Color For Summer: Sally Hansen Frutti Petutie

By Kristie

I love this shade, adore the shape of the brush itself and I can't believe how fast this polish dries. I was done with my nails in less then 10 minutes flat which is a total miracle. It's the perfect summery shade and I simply cannot recommend this polish enough.

Go get ya a bottle of Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure soon. Please and thank you.

 
 
{Photos courtesy of me!}

The World's Smallest Postal Service Kit

By Kristie

In February of last year I whipped up a quick post about the World's Smallest Postal Service. Basically it's a service where you pay someone to write a letter for you, a tiny letter sealed in a tiny envelope with a tiny stamp and sealed with a tiny amount of hot wax. It's such a cute idea that I just think is so unique.

Imagine my delight when I came across a kit from the same company to make your very own tiny letter for someone special in your life.

 
 
How surprised would someone be to get such an adorable little thing in the mail handmade by you? You can probably tell by the fact that I've now talked about these tiny little letters that I sort of love them. I think you'd have to hate rainbows and all things adorable to not love these. You don't hate rainbows and all things adorable, do you?

{Image from The Curiosity Shoppe}