Three Bird Nest must have clothing pieces! Sharing Jumpsuits, Bralettes, Crochet, Overalls, and Kimonos. 3BN is the go-to spot for all things trendy boho.
Watercolor Challenge
Art is like therapy for me. It’s a time for me to quiet my thoughts and focus them on what’s in front of me. It’s also something I highly enjoy doing. I hope to spend more time in the future developing my abilities.
I decided to pick up some watercolors a few months ago and I have been trying to figure them out for a while. I still am not sure I know what I am doing with them, but I decided to do a personal watercolor challenge for myself, to help build my confidence. It totally worked!
I used Pinterest and YouTube to help me get going. One that thing differs from watercolor to other art mediums is that watercolor is less forgiving, once it’s down, it’s down. I tried to stay lose for that reason, mostly as I get more comfortable with it. I also learned that with watercolor, the quality of the materials matter more. I got a premium set off Amazon during their Prime Day sale and the pad that came with it had 20 sheets and so began my watercolor-a-day challenge. I wanted to share the progression of my challenge from Day 1-20.
I hope you like them or at least 1. What’s your favorite?
As always, thanks for stopping by! XoXo
Shop BLACK! Ed. 1
I wanted to share a few black-owned boutiques that I have recently found! I am making a conscious effort to support black business. I actively buy black, but I can do better! I tend to just go with whatever is convenient. There are a lot of great black-owned businesses out there and in efforts to embrace and encourage the new culture we are trying to create, I will be doing a shop black series. This is edition 1!
Let me just go off on a small tangent. There was a thread going from a local news outlet for black out day 2020 and the comments were disgusting to read. I have to learn to not read the comments. The people were saying how wrong we are for encouraging this. I am not sure why this is so hard for people to understand, but just like with black lives matter, we are not saying ONLY black lives matter nor are we saying you should ONLY shop black. It is important, esp right now, to uplift the black community. Of course if you want to shop all black, I am here for it!! Let’s diversify the businesses we support guys!
I wanted to share some amazing boutiques, black designers, in the form of looks from a few black-owned clothing shops/businesses!
First up! This dress is from Boutique J Renee. I think I am in love with this shop! There are SO many things I want. It was so hard to decide. The order processed and shipped quick AND if you subscribe, you get a 10% off coupon. This dress makes me so happy!
This is the perfect spring summer top!! It makes me want to dance. It is from J Brooks Boutique. There is such a good varieties of clothes and the ordering was smooth and I got my shirt in just a few short days!!
This is paired with a custom purse by my dear friend over at Simply9Designs. Her bags are AMAZING! You can order a custom bag or you can select from one of her many selection options. I have 3 bags so far and next I am eyeballing a laptop sleeve or tote. And guess what, she even makes luggage (duffle bags). Sign up through her site and you can get 15% off your first purchase.
Can we just say YES to this blazer? I love blazers because they can be worn year round and dressed up and down! This one is from a boutique right in my hometown in Sugar Land, TX at Mod Chic Couture. This blazer is on sale, I got it for under $40!
Switching up the shirt from leopard to a tee. This shirt says “No Justice, No Peace” is from Nyoka Gregory Beauty and is only $15! She has other Black Lives Matter tees, tumblers, and cosmetic bags. Also she is a great hair stylist.
Which do you like better, the leopard tank or the tee?
This next outfit really belongs on somebody’s vacation. It is from Lilly’s Kloset! It’s not only cute, but so comfortable! It can be a good transitional piece as you can add on a jacket and call it a day!
Last but not the least (nor the end), I would like to share 2 pieces from Charley Madelyn! The owner, Chelsea, just opened up about a month ago, and has a great collection of pieces. Not only does she sell cute clothes but she also sells faith-inspired items - Biblical devotions & mugs.
Let me just say, taking the pics in the Houston heat outside, had me questionning everything. Please appreciate the effort behind these. You cannot tell here but I was literally drenched in sweat by the time I completed the pics. Haha! Anyways, thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed these looks.
What black owned businesses do you love? I am always open to learning of new ones.
Valentines Day Edition: Boy Mommy and Me
I am a boy mama and the number 1 question I get is “Are you going to try for a girl?” Whatever that means. As far as we know, we are done. We have 2 kids more than I planned to have (I only have 2 smile) and 3 kids less than my husband planned to have (he came in with high hopes of 5), but he is more done than I am ha. I do go back and forth about adopting. Nonetheless, I love being a boy mom!
It is like mom nature to want to coordinate outfits with our kids and even significant others. I am not sure why we do this, but we do (or most of us). It is hard to coordinate with boys, you have to get creative. I am hoping to share more ideas on the blog. I have to take advantage of this while my boys are still young enough to allow it.
Through a friend, I discovered Little Mia Bella, which specializes in fashion for Me + Minis. There are a ton of cute styles, specifically for mom and daughters. I felt a little left out and I wanted some matching shirts for my boys and I. As you know, Valentine’s Day is coming up and I saw this set posted on their IG page. I love the message on the shirts - Love you. Love you more. Love you most. The 3 different styles are perfect for us. I knew pink would be a hard sell for my oldest and the pants with the hearts would be a hard sell for my hubby, though. After a little bribery, and some extreme encouragement, we made it happen! In my defense, the heart pants are from a set that comes with a cool dragon shirt.
As much as I would love for more options like there are for little girls, I understand why there aren’t as many. Boys just do not care as much. I have never been one to over-dress my boys anyway, but they do not seem to care how nice a shirt is or shoes are, etc. At least not when they are little (Note: I am sure there are exceptions to the rule though). My oldest cares about the comfort of the outfit - he loves basketball style and shirts that reflect his latest passion (currently Spider-man). My kids also are not a fan of pictures, so even if I can get them in the outfit, they certainly won’t stick around long enough for me to the get the perfect picture. In the short run, this is better on my pocketbook. I say short run cause man clothes and shoes are more expensive from what I have seen, also add the growth spurts that kicks in mid-teen to young adult.
Anyway, I am just tabbling (type babbling ha). The main purpose of this post is to share how we made these pink shirts work for us! Real men wear pink!
Thanks for popping in! XoXo
(Note: This post is not sponsored by Little Mia Bella, just sharing some really cute shirts on some really cute little guys.)
Holiday Attire Ideas x ASOS
ASOS and I met and we were love at first sight! They are definitely my TOP choice for online shopping site. They have a variety of styles ( which can be a bit overwhelming), unlimited 2 day shipping for a year for only $19, AND free returns. I typically size up for bottoms, so keep that in mind as you shop there. One cool thing is as you shop there more, they start to recommend items for you based on your previous purchases, which helps ease some of the overwhelming aspect of the site.
I know, Halloween has barely passed, but most people start planning outfits for the holidays pretty early. I wanted to share a few ideas that would go well for a casual or not so casual holiday party, Christmas pics, or if you have a wedding this fall/winter. I figured ASOS was the perfect place to kick off the season with some style ideas!
I, unfortunately, do not have the opportunity of going to a Christmas party at my company, as it is based in New Jersey and California. I live in Texas. BUT I pretty much takeover my husband’s Christmas party. It is typically at a bar downtown and somewhat casual. If it is cool enough out, I would totally rock this sweater with this adorable black belt. This is also a great Christmas day or Christmas eve top. It’s casual and cute! It is on sale at ASOS for only $14.50! This would also be really cute with a leopard skirt.
I have never been huge on velvet, but I am loving this velvet dress! It does a good job of masking my mummy tummy, but still fitted enough to show some of my curves. It is extremely comfy and you can definitely move it in. This beauty is under $25!!!!
Another more casual look! This top can be dressed up or down. I like mixing a dressier top with a casual bottom. The top itself is sheer, so you can pair it with a crop, or like a black tank, like I did. I love the puffy sleeves! This top is $54, BUT ASOS always has 20% - 25% off deals going on.
This is the perfect party dress! You can definitely move in it! Another velvet dress. I absolutely love the style. Its stylish and cute. I would pair this with my fuzzy leopard faux fur coat. I could not bring myself to putting it on in the heat! Leopard booties would so go well with it. There’s so many ways you can accessorize this dress.
In a dream world, I’d have fancy places to wear fancy dresses to all the time. I ABSOLUTELY love dressing up (despite the fact that on most days, I do not have it in me)! If you have a more fancy affair to attend during the holidays, this dress is a GREAT style and ASOS has this in sooo many colors and lengths and they are all on sale. I wore this to a wedding last year. My son was 4 months old and I wanted to wear something wear I felt a little more womanly and sexy, but also did not show my milk fulled breasts (they were huge, got up to a size H, yes H as HELP, and I was embarrassed of my tummy). I have lost quite a bit of weight since the first time I wore it and to me it still looks great! (Note: This one is sold out, here is another similar style).
Which style is more you?!?!
As always, thanks for reading and I hope I gave you some inspiration, no matter the occasion. XOXO
Little Black Dress by Pink Blush
Kids have a way of changing your body. Some people snap back quickly, some people very slowly, and some people struggle with it all together. I definitely will say that my snap back has been slow, despite that that I work very hard to reach my body goals. The hardest thing for me to lose is the mommy belly. I try to give myself grace, but honestly, I struggle with the idea of looking pregnant, especially since the weight is gone in other areas. It’s crazy to think, but there are people who will ask, and it happened to me after the first baby. When I am shopping for items, I try to find pieces that will flatter my body most. ! was given the opportunity to collaborate with PinkBlush, and I wanted to share with you my first experience. I have seen their clothes all over instagram, and this is what initially peaked my interest. They are an online clothing boutique that sells stylish women’s clothing that is curated with the modern mother in mind (like me!).
I decided to go with a little black dress. Black is a flattering color, and it’s versatile, you can dress it up or dress it down or something in beteween. I love the twisted front detail on this black dress. It gives it an extra pizazz, and it helps to mask the mommy tummy. The material on this dress is thick and soft. It seems like these days, most dresses are so sheer as they are made up of such thin material. This dress is extremely comfortable, perfect for the busy mommy lifestyle. Honestly, this dress would make for a good maternity dress too. It has good stretching ability, which would accommodate a small bump. This dress is ribbed, which gives it more flare, and has two small slits on the side. This has made a really great addition to my wardrobe!
Head over to Shop PinkBlush to see what your closet is missing out on!!
For cuteness (my son aka Dash)
Fall 2019 Looks
Fashion has always been a passion of mine, but somewhere along the way, I lost confidence. This in turn led me to not feel cute enough to wear cute clothes. I can still clean up nicely here and there, but just had not been myself. I am still not quite there, and working on building back up my confidence. Working on within takes time, but in the mean time, I will fake it until I make it! With some encouragement from my sisters (and mom), who were kind enough to join me on this shoot, I have put together some fall looks that hopefully give some inspiration for your fall wardrobe!
The rule of wearing white after labor day is completely out the window. My top and pants are both from Zara. The white jeans are perfect for the mom bod as it sucked in my mommy tum really nicely. I love the ruffles of the top and the color screams fall. I added a felt fedora for a little added pop of color! The top was a bit pricey but they have one similar to it here, that is actually on sale! As I am writing this blog, and linking the items, I realize that I totally wore the shirt backwards….bare with me, this is my first style blog ha. But hey, you can wear it both ways :). The jeans appear to only be available in store.
Meet my big sister, Liz!
Blazers, especially plaid ones, are in this fall! And I am here for it! I love a good blazer. They can be dressed up or down . This one is from H&M. They a ton of plaid ones for a really sweet price. Also peep my sister’s shoes, from DSW, so cute. These were on major sale at DSW, and I was unable to locate online, but here is a similar one.
Meet my younger sister, Carrie! Part 1 of the twins.
ASOS is my favorite online store, hands down. They offer annual 2 day shipping and all returns are free. Once you order a few items and learn your size, you are good to go. The sizing is slightly smaller (IMO), so I usually size up on bottoms. This dress is from ASOS and is currently on sale. I love the cape in the back and the gold button touch. It is paired with leopard boots, which are definitely in for fall! Give me all the leopard.
Meet my other little sister, Amanda! Part 2 of the twin duo.
This fringe cardigan may be my absolute favorite out of all pieces. I never shop in Forever21 anymore, but that’s exactly where I found it. It looks like online only has bubblegum, featured is beige. This is paired with a black short sleeve body suit with high neck and a leather look skirt. This can be worn anywhere, work, out with friends, date, etc.
Our mom made a cameo, isn’t she cute?
I want to thank my sisters and mom for being a part of my first style look blog post.
Which look fits more your style? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
As always, thanks for reading, XOXO! An extra special thanks on this one as this is a new direction for me.
My Versatile Apple Watch Band + Giveaway
I have never been a watch person, but as time passes, my appreciation for a watch grows. I not only value the functionality and convenience a watch adds, but I love using it as an accessory to style my outfits. I was invited to partner with JORD watches and was honestly blown away by the beauty of their unique wood timepieces and watch bands. As a busy, traveling mama, I rely on my watch quite a bit to help keep me on track. JORD is pronounced Yode, which is the Norse word for Earth. Their watches are a sophisticated mix of natural, reclaimed materials, sourced from all over the world.
The color I’ve really been into the last year or two has been grey! It’s neutral and it compliments so many different colors. For my beautiful leather apple watch band color choice, I decided to go with grey for that very reason. It’s something that I can wear each day no matter the activity or the fashion choice.
Speaking of activity, over the years I’ve used different affordable apple watch bands for different reasons. What I like about the JORD watch band is I’m able to wear it for just about everything - working out, daily errands, date night and the moments I get to dress in my fun formal attire. My JORD watch band just fits it all.
So what sets this band/brand apart? In my opinion:
The band enhances the aesthetic of my Apple Watch
It fits all aspects of my lifestyle
There are many color and style options. (Grey leather is fabulous). If you really want to add spice and pizazz to your look, they have unique wood apple bands and watches for men and women that are exquisite!
It’s comfortable and has good movements.
It’s of quality craftsmanship. Despite using it on a daily basis with my active lifestyle, the leather remains intact without fraying like other brands I have tried.
Win $85 JORD Credit
Now here is the best part! I’m doing a giveaway with JORD! They are generous enough to give one lucky winner $85 that can be applied towards the purchase of an apple watch or a watch. Entering is super easy! All you have to do is head to this link, enter your name, email, and tell them what your favorite style is. The winner will be announced in about 2 weeks.
Portrait Paintings of Mi Familia
I LOVE painting people, but I secretly, want to be a landscape painter. Why? Because I feel like these make more sense on walls. Plus if I paint people, I want to paint the people I want from the picture I want. For me, painting people makes the most sense. I am able to capture the likeness slightly more than depicting the scenery in the landscape painting. The shapes are not as clearly defined sometimes in nature, so I can easily get lost. Please excuse the quality of some of the photography of the paintings.
First up is my FAVORITE painting to date. It is of my sister, Mandy. I spent the most time on this capturing the details.
oil on canvas 16x20.
Next up is my mom. What I love most about this painting is her eyes! She has the most beautiful eyes. The most challenging part was adding in the natural grey highlights she has and of course, hands. I think most budding artists can agree that hands are challenging.
11 x 14 on wood
This is my oldest sister Elizabeth. She is defending her dissertation for graduate school in this picture. I absolutely loved the photo so much that I had to paint it and I gifted it to her for her birthday. She proudly hangs it on her wall, which means the world to me.
16 x 20 oil on canvas
This is my sister Megan. I plan to re-do this one. She deserves a better one, but I wanted to include her anyway.
16 x 20 Oil on Canvas
This painting is of my cousin Amber, who is like a sister. I saw this picture on her instagram and had to paint it! She looks so beautiful, so symmetrical, and a little like Michael Jackson (which I LOVE). The original photo is black and white, so it was a challenge converting it to color. I did my best though.
10 x 10 oil on black canvas
Here are two portraits I did of my son, Ethan. I could paint him all day. Blake needs a painting still, but time is so limited these days. Both of the below paintings are oil on Masonite boards.
I did one of Paul and I, but it’s so bad, I will spare you the image ha.
I want to shout out my amazing teacher that has patiently helped me to learn to paint, his name is Charles Anderson. He is truly incredible!
Which one is your favorite? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for reading.
XOXO
Santa Fe Clock
Everyone needs an outlet or 2 or 5, would be great. For me, my outlet is drawing/painting. About 4 years ago, I decided to start oil painting. It has been a huge challenge for me, but in a good way. It gives me something else to focus on, even if it’s only for a couple hours per week. Since I’ve had my second baby, it’s been even less than that. Once we get a good routine going, I hope to make time for it more consistently. I like to paint what I see and often times on trips, I get inspired.
I wanted to share a painting that goes along with my New Mexico post. I saw this beautifully colored antique clock located just outside the New Mexico Museum of Art and had to paint it. I am glad I did, because it turned out to be one of my favorite paintings. It took me roughly 10 hours, over 3 weeks, to paint. It’s 11 x 14 on oil. Unfortunately we moved recently, and this one somehow got lost. This photograph below is all I have left of it. I hope one day I will find it.
In the future, I hope to be able to sell art like above. I just need to get more efficient. Please stay tuned!
P.S. If you look in the Santa Fe section of my New Mexico post, you will see the image I took that I painted this from.