the style du jour

a dash of thrift, a sprinkle of stripes and a whole lot of lovely

Blogger-Worthy Clear Business Cards

This post is sponsored by Basic Invite. I was gifted business cards to review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are genuine. 

It’s a new school year, and while my personal school days are long gone (at least for now), I feel programmed with the desire to buy new stationery and organizing materials. Instead of a new Five Star and lined notebooks,  I’m a sucker for buying a pretty new planner, desk calendar, notecards and business cards.

My personalized clear business cards c/o Basic Invite.
(Use code 15FF51 to save 15% on all orders through September)

Until recent years, I had business cards covered through work and my professional identity at that time. Since staying home full-time with my kids the last few years and trying on various hats (e.g., nutrition communications consultant, lifestyle blogger), I’ve found it important to have my own set of professional business cards to have on hand for events, written thank you’s and networking.

Thanks to Basic Invite, an e-retailer with boutique quality stationery (and websites) that you can personalize for every life event or holiday, I was able to create these new gorgeous business cards.

What stands out to me is that Basic Invite’s selection of business card templates are anything but basic. They are modern and clean, with plenty of personalization options like foil detailing (in gold, silver and rose gold – love!) and photo inclusion to make them truly unique. The clear, plastic business cards immediately stood out to me as a modern take that I had to try.

There were so many cute templates to choose from that I printed another two-sided business card featuring a full-bleed personal photo. (This is the template I used to create the card below.) I like that there is no minimum quantity so you can order small batches at a time if you prefer.

From their speedy delivery service to all the lovely boutique-style art options, Basic Invite is on my radar for other stationery needs beyond business cards like ordering our annual family Christmas cards online. (I should start reviewing all the design options because it will be difficult to decide on one!)

Whether you’re a blogger, artist, freelancer or professional of any type, Basic Invite has a stunning selection of business cards to create unique branding and leave a lasting impression.  

XOXO,

Emily

My personalized clear business cards c/o Basic Invite.
(Use code 15FF51 to save 15% on all orders through September)
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Taking Home Baby: A Hospital Packing List for the Minimalist Mama

We’re on the two week (and a couple days) countdown until Baby S’s anticipated arrival. I’m feeling all the feels! Excited. Anxious. Emotional. Joyful. Gassy. #momtruth

The nursery is (almost) complete (here’s a peek at our progress). Baby clothes are washed and folded. My hospital bag is packed and ready to roll out of here.

Every birth story is different, but based on our experience with Teddy and Sloane, I’ve whittled my hospital bag packing list down to a minimalist list of essentials.

Hospital Bag Checklist  – Mama Essentials

 

Soft and comfortable clothing to wear for post-delivery. This luxe hospital gown I’m wearing here is designed by Isabel & Ingrid and is the perfect lightweight dress to wear after delivery. It’s 100% cotton with shoulder snaps on each side to easily pull down for breastfeeding or skin-to-skin contact with Baby. Side slits and an adjustable waist should make for ease getting in and out of bed and for walking the halls. Beyond the hospital, the super soft fabric and design make it a perfect one-piece outfit to throw on for those first few hazy weeks of nesting at home with a newborn.

Flats. Rubber-soled flats will act as non-slip slippers during the hospital stay as well as easy shoes to slip on to take home Baby. These foldable champagne hued flats from Talaria Flats will easily match with anything you pack and they conveniently fold up into a carrying pouch saving you even more space in your hospital bag.

Seamless Nursing Bras and Tanks. Whether you decide to breastfeed or not, stretchy “nursing” bras are super comfortable (see a comfort theme here!) for all-day and night wear and support. My favorite is the Isabel Maternity from Target seamless bra which is what I’ve been wearing during pregnancy, too. The nursing tanks like this pink one are cozy for night wear or for layering during the day (I’ll pack a handful of disposable nursing pads as well to help stay dry and leak-free).

Pashmina or Scarf. Something soft and homey to layer with in a drafty hospital room and easy enough to throw off when caring for Baby.

Small Vanity Kit. My bag will include: hair ties and a head-band to keep hair out of my face during and after delivery. A small bottle of shampoo, conditioner and dry shampoo to refresh after delivery. I’ll pack a few makeup essentials like BB cream, mascara, blush and lip balm to freshen up before we snap a few newborn hospital photos. Sensitive moisturizers like Cetaphil lotion and coconut oil will help keep my skin moisturized in the dry hospital air and won’t leave fragrances on that precious newborn baby skin.

Hospital Bag Checklist  – Baby Essentials

Swaddling blankets. Once Baby has arrived and has a bath, I like to swap out the standard hospital blanket and cap (I save them for my memory box) with super soft, muslin cotton blankets. My favorite are from Aiden + Anais. The neutral and cute designs add a nice touch to those newborn photos, too. Plus, they are durable and easy to clean (I’ve had these for five years and used them with two babies so far) and I’ve used them well beyond the swaddling stages for tummy time, crib sheets, car seat covers and beach blankets.

A soft beanie. A newborn baby burrito isn’t complete without a soft, cute stocking cap. This incredibly soft beanie from a mama-founded company, Softsie, is made of an organic cotton blend and the fabric is infused with all-natural and hypoallergenic ingredients (think aloe vera, jojoba oil and vitamin E) for added softness and care against newborn skin. I love the subtle and gender neutral patterns and colors of their beanie hats like this arrow beanie in a very light gray/green color (Use code DUJOUR to save 15% on any order from Softsie through the end of July!)

Take home outfit. The first trip home and adventure out beyond the hospital walls always feels like a major milestone. I bought a few sets of neutral sleeper gowns from Carters, complete with matching mitts and beanies, that are made of uber soft cotton, button-free for easy diaper and outfit changes, and, most importantly, cute enough to mark the special occasion.

 

In addition to these items, it never hurts to pack and pre-plan a few tech essentials: cell phone charger, camera battery, download your favorite shows to your iPad and set-up your favorite song lists or Pandora stations.

If you’re a parent or parent-to-be, what essentials have you/will you take in your hospital bag??

XOXO,

Emily

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Neutral Nursery for Baby Boy Preview (Plus Picks from Target’s Online Sale!)

In four weeks, we’ll be bringing home Baby so naturally my nesting and organizing habits are kicked in to full gear at the moment. We’re still in the process of updating two bedrooms before his arrival: a neutral kids’ space for Teddy and Sloane to share (at least for the next year or so!) and a neutral nursery in another room. There are a couple new pieces of furniture, bamboo shades and accent pieces still on their way, but we’ve been able to assemble a good portion of their rooms with furniture and accessories we already own.

Denim Kimono

Slide Sandal

 

Many of these accent pieces for the nursery and the kids’ room I’ve purchased from Target over the years and most of them are discounted today as part of Target’s online-only sale. At first glance, you can tell I’ve been drawn to lots of whites and neutrals which only makes it easier to mix and match these pieces throughout the house (anyone else love to re-organize and re-decorate their rooms on the regular?!) Here are some of those favorite pieces including this uber soft, woven blanket (we have this one on multiple beds in the house) and round mirror (I also own multiples of this one in brass)

I’m eager to complete these bedrooms and share the finished nursery and the kids’ new gender neutral room with you in the next couple weeks! Until then….

XOXO,

Emily

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No Bake Brown Rice Pudding

When I was little, my mom would make rice pudding from dinner leftovers. She’d whip it up with raisins and it was always topped with a healthy dash of cinnamon. To this day, rice pudding is one of my go-to comfort foods. Served warm or cold from the fridge, it’s all delicious to me.

I’ve been craving rice pudding more often these days, so I’ve been experimenting with my rice pudding ingredients to create a version I feel good eating on the daily.

Made with whole grain brown rice, reduced-fat milk and sweet raisins, this version makes for a wholesome breakfast or mid-day snack. For years, I made rice pudding in the oven, but more recently I’ve been making mine on the stove which creates a super creamy and rich-tasting pudding every time. It’s passed the extended family taste test and, most importantly, the toddler taste test.

A healthy dash of cinnamon, orange zest, fresh orange juice and vanilla extract kick up the flavor a bit, too.

No Bake Brown Rice Pudding

This recipe makes about 3 1/2 cups of rice pudding which makes about five-six portions for us.

  1. Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized saucepan: 2 cups of cooked brown rice (I always use Trader Joe’s cooked, frozen bagged brown rice), 3 cups of 2% milk, 1/3 cup of sugar and 1/2 cup of raisins. Add a pinch of salt, splash of pure vanilla extract (approximately 2 teaspoons), a dash of cinnamon (more or less depending on your preference), orange zest from one medium-sized orange and a splash of fresh orange juice (approximately 1 tablespoon). Stir ingredients together.
  2. Bring to a rolling boil and lower the heat (between simmer and low). Cook for about 20-25 minutes, stirring often.
  3. Once the milk is absorbed and the rice pudding is thickened, turn off heat.
  4. Let sit about five minutes and serve warm or transfer pudding to a small casserole dish or individual bowls/mason jars for cooling and storing in the fridge. Enjoy cold or re-heat in the microwave.

This recipe is a great way to get more whole grains in your day and introduce (sneak) more whole grains into your kids diet. If you’re an oatmeal breakfast lover, try this brown rice pudding for a little change-up in your morning routine.  Experiment with the ingredients – use your milk of choice, less sugar or other dried fruit like dried cherries – to create your favorite version. If you do, please share your favorite version with me!

XOXO,

Emily

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National Water Safety Month – My Thoughts on Goldfish Swim School

As a mom with little ones, water safety has always been a priority. Whether it was bath time or beach time, there were clear rules with how we operated with the kids around water. Mainly me being a paranoid wreck and using far too many  flotation devices on our children (bath tubs excluded).

That said, it wasn’t until we moved into our home with a swimming pool in the backyard that learning water safety and mastering swimming skills simply became the priority and perhaps take precedence over some other enrichment activities at the moment.

When I learned there was a Goldfish Swim School nearby, we were eager to get our four year old in the water. This wasn’t his first swim class, but his first class swimming on his own and as part of a diligent swim program.

To say we’re impressed with Goldfish and Teddy’s swimming improvement is an understatement. When Teddy first started back in January, he was weary of going underwater or even getting his face wet at all. Now he’s jumping off the ledge and kicking off the side with his head underwater.

The class sizes are small – typically three to four kids – which makes for tons of one-on-one time with the instructors. Plus, we’ve noticed Teddy push himself among his classmates who often cheer on and encourage each other.

There hasn’t been a day Teddy hasn’t been eager to set off for swimming – even in the dead of gloomy winter – and he has a blast the entire time. As a parent, there’s nothing more heartwarming than to see your child tackle a new skill and with so much joy at the same time.

As spectators, we’ve come to look forward to our Goldfish Swim School days, too. The facility is immaculate and has all the amenities you’d ever want – comfortable chairs for the parents, a heated pool deck, a fun play area for the younger siblings, and a spacious changing and shower area. Plus, everything is decked out like a day at the beach complete with sea life murals, tiki hut-inspired umbrellas, surfboard benches and a giant fish aquarium.

 

Beyond aesthetics, the swim instructors are well-trained, the curriculum is thorough and so are the updates you receive as parents. After every class, the instructor gives us a personal update on Teddy’s progress.

In honor of National Water Safety Month this May and with the summer around the corner, I wanted to share our positive experience with Goldfish Swim School as we master this important life skill. Goldfish Swim Schools are located across the country, so if you’re looking for a quality swim program for your kids as we gear up for summer, check to see if they are in your area.

XO,

Emily

 

***Goldfish Swim School offered us some complimentary classes in exchange for my honest review. We have and will continue our classes at Goldfish because we value them so much!***

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Things To Do As A Family in Palm Springs

 

Palm Springs, California has been our spring break destination since I was a kid so I adore that my parents have continued the vacation tradition with me, my three siblings and our growing families. It’s a gem of a town and I love to see the city bloom with new boutique hotels, restaurants and shopping while maintaining its mid-century modern charm.

While lounging and playing by the pool every day is quite fine by me, those of you with little ones know how key it is to keep things interesting. If you’ve traveled to Palm Springs before or are prepping for a trip to the area soon, then you may have added things like the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Cabazon Dinosaurs or the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert to your kid-friendly activities list.

Here are a couple other family-friendly outdoor activities in the Palm Springs area to keep in mind:

Moorten Botanical Gardens

We explored the Morrten Botanical Gardens for the first time this year and we loved it! The garden isn’t super large in size making it an ideal place to take younger kids. The garden includes a walking path, the indoor Cactarium and a nursery. A highlight for the kids was watching the giant tortouise, Tank, and his smaller tortoise friends. Bonus: Kids under five are admitted free. Adults are only $5.00. It’s also a picturesque spot to capture photos.

“Piper” Sandals (c/o Jambu Shoes)

 

Tank, the tortoise, with his smaller pal enjoying lunch.

 

The Living Desert

The Living Desert is located a quick drive from Palm Springs (about 35 minutes). It not only has animals from North American desert regions, but also African animals like giraffes, hippos and cheetahs. In addition to the animal exhibits, there are walking trails and a huge outdoor miniature train model. Get there early when the zoo opens so you can explore before the heat gets too hot. The zoo is spread out making for picturesque walks, but for little ones, I recommend bringing a stroller or wagon to help them make it around the grounds without melting.

 

 

This outfit was my uniform two days in a row (no shame!) for our Botanic Garden and The Living Desert adventures. Thankfully I had these “Piper” Jambu sandals which are made with soft Memory Foam so I had no problem walking for miles in the heat. I was also impressed with how clean and like new my sandals appeared after walking around in desert dirt and sand for two days. The buttery leather and denim material makes it easy to wipe clean. Get my review of Jambu Spring Collection heels and check out one of my favorite pairs in my recent post. P.S. Use code DUJOUR18 to save 10% on these shoes and any others from Jambu.com.

If you’re planning a trip to Palm Springs, California with your family, keep the Moorten Botanical Gardens and The Living Desert on your itinerary. If you’re a Palm Springs traveler, do you have any other favorite spots for your family? As always, I’d love to hear from you!

 

XO,

Emily

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Easy Spring Salad – Pepperoni Panzanella

Pepperoni Panzanella, a recipe created by Laura Chalela Hoover, MPH, RDN and published in Mom’s Sugar Solution

 

Mom’s Sugar Solution, a new cookbook written by my friend and registered dietitian nutritionist, Laura Chalela Hoover, MPH, RDN, has become my go-to guide for new recipe inspiration for my kids and for our entire family. Did you see my top five reasons to add this cookbook to your recipe library? You can get my full review here as well as some of the favorite recipes we’ve tried so far including Laura’s Pepperoni Panzanella.

It’s a simple recipe made with flavorful ingredients and topped with fresh basil. I make it most every week to have something quick and satisfying to enjoy midday. It’s also become a brunch staple when entertaining friends or family (and it receives rave reviews every time!)

Laura was kind enough to let me share this recipe from Mom’s Sugar Solution with you guys. Add this to your lunch or dinner menu this week and let me know what you think!

Pepperoni Panzanella

Recipe Courtesy Laura Chalela Hoover, MPH, RDN from Mom’s Sugar Solution

Serves: 6

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

 

Ingredients:

2 (1″-thick) slices crusty whole-grain bread, cut into 1/2″ pieces

1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

8 ounces fresh mozzarella pearls

4 ounces sliced pepperoni, halved

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves

 

Steps:

  1. Prepheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place bread on a baking sheet and toast 10 minutes or until lightly golden. Transfer to a large serving bowl and let cool 5 minutes.
  2. Add tomatoes, mozzarella, pepperoni, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper to bowl. Toss to combine. Let sit about 30 minutes to allow bread to soften. Garnish with basil and serve.

 

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