La Dolce Vita

I'm writing this post today in between naps, feedings, laundry, vacation packing, and doing dishes. I'm grumpy with a side of exhaustion! But I'm trying to take a moment to recalibrate; this time I have away from work when I get to focus on Parker and being a mom is so incredibly wonderful. Sometimes exhaustion gets the better of me, and I feel overwhelmed with all the items on my to-do list that keep getting re-prioritized to the "may not actually ever happen" category. I'm trying to keep some perspective, but I'll admit I'm not always great at it. That being said, my doctor did give me the "ok" to start running, so after a long day and writing this post intermittently over the course of many hours, I'm going to sign off and hit the pavement for a few minutes before picking up Sylvie from school. I've really missed the mental benefits derived from working up a good sweat! Here's to hoping a little sunshine, fresh air, and cardio kick this mood! 

I've linked to some great dresses and faux-fur pieces below, and the purse can be found here. 

Also, don't forget to check out our awesome photographer's website (Bradley Wittke Pacifica Gallery)! Bradley photographs nature, beaches, fashion, and families. He's very reasonably priced, too. 

When your ring gets stuck on your cape....

Straight-Legged and Floral

This is my second look shot with Bradley Wittke of Pacifica Gallery, and we shot on a particularly foggy day near Land's End trail, which gave this shoot a mystical feel. It was also a very special shoot because Lisa and I were able to take a rare photo together (shown below). I'm so lucky to have such a supportive blog partner who makes this (sometimes challenging) journey that much more fun.

As most of you may know, Lisa and I both have full-time jobs aside from Haute Ashbury in the financial services industry, so I'm always looking for appropriate yet trendy outfits to wear to work. Bonus points if each piece can also be worn outside a professional setting. I wish I was one of those people who can hop out of bed at 5am and head to the gym, but I'm on the opposite side of the spectrum. I'll take all the sleep I can get.

As a result, over the years I've found that putting my outfit together the night before allows me to me more creative with my wardrobe and also saves time in the morning. If I don't think through my outfit the night before, my instinctual choice in the morning is always cozy sweaters and stretchy pants, which let's be honest are amazing but don't always make for the most fashionable look. When I'm excited about what I'm wearing, I can exude confidence throughout the day, which in turn translates to my work.

Most of this look is H&M (some currently on sale!), and I've linked similar pieces below. You can find the blouse here, pants here, and jacket here.

Until next time!
xoxo
Nahal

In a Dark Wood

I'm really excited to share my first look shot with the very talented Bradley Wittke of Pacifica Gallery. It was so much fun to shoot with a pro! Nahal and I have worked very hard on our photography skills, but we still have a long way to go. I love the location of this shoot..it's so dark and dreamy!

I will admit my heart sank when we received the photos, not because they're not awesome, but because I suddenly really regretted my wardrobe choice. I was so excited to wear this fabulous little black dress and to post it on the blog, but what I didn't realize in the dim lights of my room was that I really am in no shape to be wearing this dress right now. Even doubling up on Spanx didn't help, clearly! In my heart, I know that I'm being completely unrealistic with my body expectations and wanting to look like I did before getting pregnant, but I am a woman after all. I see all these celebrities and bloggers back to a size 2 weeks after having a baby, and I want that. I can admit it (well, the size 2 thing is a bit unrealistic for me, but you know what I mean). So when I looked at these photos, I felt disappointment and a bit of self-loathing...hey,I'm just being honest here. My doctor gave me a red light when I asked if I could go for a run, I guess it's still too early. So, for now, I will work on loving my body as is, and hope that in time I work off this spare tire! 

I got this dress off Gilt because surprisingly I don't have a little black dress, and I loved the combo of the lace and the flared skirt. Also, I've always loved Erin Fetherston, and I couldn't pass up the great deal I got! I paired it with booties to mix it up a little bit, but it would look stunning with strappy sandals too. The jewelry is all via Rocksbox. If you haven't checked them out, what are you waiting for?? It's such a great company...unlimited designer jewelry (on loan) for $19/month! Use the code hauteashburyxoxo for a free month. 

Mamas, I'd love to hear about your trials and tribulations with weight loss post-baby and what you did to lose weight (or to just embrace your new figure!).

Thanks for reading! xoxo

Foggy Reflections

Hello Friends! This is one of my favorite shoots we've done so far, thanks to Brad from Pacifica Gallery, who Lisa and I worked with recently and is incredibly talented. We were lucky enough to be able to shoot a few different looks with him, so be on the lookout for more great shots to come!

We are officially entering Indian Summer here in San Francisco, and I am taking full advantage of the warm weather lately. This pink pleated skirt has been in my closet forever and I finally found it's soulmate in this white lacey blouse from H&M. I'm on a huge lacey blouse kick, so this one was a major score. I've linked similar blouses below, but you can find the real thing here for only $34.99!

Also, who says you can't wear white after Labor Day? Why not live on the wild side and break some old rules?

Now, about the purse. It's also very old and was a gift from my grandmother, so I have no idea where or when she got it, but I'm not complaining. I recently found the sunglasses at Jeremy's in South Park (a must-go for the vintage lover), and the blue reflective lenses add a splash of hipster to any ensemble (linked below).

I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend filled with sunshine, loved ones, and of course some killer looks.

xoxo
Nahal