OFF THE SHOULDER

Call me crazy, but I think the sexiest and most beautiful part of a woman's body is her shoulder. Some women like to show off their legs and others their chest, but if I want to feel beautiful and sexy I like showing my shoulders. 

Off-the-shoulder tops and dresses were in style last spring and summer, and they have returned yet again. Fashion inspired by the 1970's is trending in a huge way, and these tops along with flared denim is here to stay for awhile. 

I love this white, off-the-shoulder top by Elizabeth and James because it's comfortable, doesn't wrinkle and the pattern is ultra feminine. To achieve the full 70's inspired fashion trend I paired this top with wide-leg Alice + Olivia trousers. Don't be afraid of volume. I'm size 10, and I can still wear voluminous things without looking oversized. It's just about balance. Just make sure that you wear tall shoes to elongate your body. I wore platforms and made sure the hem went over my toes. Add some long necklaces to complete your boho look. 

However, if you're too nervous to wear flared denim, you can always go with a good pair of skinny jeans. They are classic and define your body more. You really don't need too many accessories to make this outfit complete. The top really does all of the work for you. 

Get the whole look at Neiman Marcus. Top by Elizabeth & James, wide-leg pants by Alice + Olivia, jewelry from Neiman Marcus, hat from GAP, skinny jeans from Target.

Photos by Rennai Hoefer

PINTEREST LOOK FOR LESS

If Birkenstocks were able to make a resurgence from their seventies heyday, it's no surprise that flared jeans have fought their way back into the limelight, too. This pin from my spring style Pinterest board received over 780 repins, which affirms that the flared jean is officially back. When shopping for a pair of flares, opt for a mid to a high rise to get the most flattering fit. These jeans are great for highlighting curves and if you choose a pair that's long enough to wear with some platform heels, they have a very lengthening effect on the figure. Let these jeans revitalize your spring wardrobe, I'm sure you'll be surprised at how many newfound outftits they'll create for you. Splurge on a pair of premium flared jeans, or get the entire look below for just $140. Happy shopping! 

H&M Lace Off the Shoulder Blouse - $50

H&M Flare Jeans - $30 

Forever 21 Strappy Wedges - $30

Forever 21 Yellow Crossbody Bag - $20

Amazon Retro Oversized Sunnies - $10

Total: $ 140

BRANDS ON OUR RADAR

As a stylist, I'm always searching for new places to shop. Thanks to the internet and rise of e-commerce it seems like every single day there's thousands of new sites to browse. Talk about overwhelming! Get me on a cute boutique's website and I could scroll forever. I can't be the only one who catches themselves making "dream" shopping carts on these sites, right? 

I've rounded up some of my favorite indie brands to shop. Some are quite established, others newer, but they're all top notch. 

Reformation 

Reformation is known for eco-friendly, surefire basics and feminine dresses. The LA brand embraces current trends, but infuses them into their collections quite tastefully so that the pieces are still classic. Their tagline is "We make killer clothes that don't kill the environment." Need I say more? 

Glossier

Maybe it's the clean pastel aesthetics or their Instagram full of fresh faced babes, but Glossier is a new brand that simply can't be ignored. This beauty line started in late 2014 with a focus on skincare and is now branching into natural looking makeup as well. Prices range from $12 to $26 so there's no reason not to treat your skin to a treat. 

Aelfie

Aelfie sells rugs, pillows, bedding, and other home accents - all of which are definitely Pinterest worthy. Their designs are bright and contemporary, often featuring bold graphics. Despite being so modern, the company prides themselves on the fact that all of their rugs are handmade using age-old, Indian techniques. How cool is that?!

Melissa Joy Manning 

MJM is the place to go for quality, wearable everyday jewelry. Collections range from affordable minimalist metal earrings to fine diamond rings. Lots of the stone pieces are quite the splurge, but they're so unique. The jewelry is all handmade in the USA, with materials upcycled and ethically sourced. 

Rylee & Cru

Of course I couldn't finish this roundup without including something for the kiddos. I've always been a fan of blogger and illustrator Kelli Murray, so it's no surprise that her clothing line for little ones is just as stellar. They sell wears for both boys and girls and all of their clothes are hand dyed and SO soft. I can't get over how cute this appleseed top is. 

Photos from Instagram. 

PLAYTIME WITH TWO KIDS

Playtime looks a lot different now that I am a mom of two kids. In partnership with Fisher-Price, I'm sharing with you how Elle, Levi and I all play together.

I'm always looking for games and toys that a three year old and a baby would both love because when we can all play together everyone is happy, especially this mama. The reality is there is only one of me and two of them, and if I'm playing with Levi sometimes Elle feels left out. Fisher-Price gave me the perfect solution with their 4-in-1 Step n Play Piano. Now we have jam sessions and dance parties together, and Elle feels included.

Elle has always shown nothing but love for Levi. She enjoys playing mommy and taking care of him. What has been hard for her during the transition to becoming a big sister is giving up the one-on-one playtime with me and Ryan that she has enjoyed for three years. 

When Levi was a newborn it was fairly easy to give her more attention because he slept a lot, but now Levi is six months old and starting to sit on his own. He can easily hold toys and loves to move. This has made playtime more of a challenge because they both need attention at the same time, but want to play with different toys. 

The Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Step n Play Piano. is the perfect toy for our family right now because Elle thinks it's just as cool as Levi does. It's basically like a DJ station for kids. You can play a piano, tambourine, guitar and a turntable. The sounds of this toy aren't annoying like other toys. It actually has cool digitized beats like you would hear in a pop song. 

The seat turns and also slides up and down the center. It also grows with the kiddo by taking out the seat all together and making it a toy to help them learn to stand. It's safe to say we'll be using this toy for a long time.

Plus, you can take your music on the go by taking the mat, tambourine and microphone out of the stander and giving your little one a tummy time experience. Elle likes to add in dance moves with the tambourine, Levi makes the beats and I try my hardest to sing a good version of twinkle twinkle little star. Haha! That seriously what is going on in the picture above, but I can't say that I sound too great.

What has also been helpful with the transition is making time for mommy-daughter dates and daddy-daughter dates. Though they can't always have my undivided attention, I try really hard to still make myself available.

I'm happy to share that Fisher-Price would like to give a 4-in-1 Step n Play Piano to a lucky reader. To enter into the giveaway, please share any advice you have on how to help your kids play well together OR share why you need this amazing toy too in the comments below. I will choose a winner at random the end of the day on Friday at 5pm PST.

Photos by Rennai Hoefer

NOT YOUR GRANDMA'S NECKERCHIEF

The neck scarf is having a resurgence. BIG time. Bandanas and silk scarves worn around the neck are no longer reserved for those in western flicks or 50's sock hops. (Though I always did admire Marty's blue neck bow in Grease...) This trend is the perfect way to jazz up any outfit with a case of the "blahs" and works with just about any outfit. Throw one on to add some personality to sleek workwear or tie it on to top off a casual look with a denim jacket. There's also about a million ways to tie these scarves. Test it out with the french twist, square knot, neck wrap, or slip knot. I recently found a navy scarf bandana at GAP that is long enough to tie multiple ways. That might be a great place to start your collection.

It's always helpful to see how other people wear a trend. Here is some inspiration spotted on Pinterest. Be sure to follow my "Trends I Love" board to see more style spotting.