7.30.2018

BOTANICAL LOVE

I've loved all things botanical for so many years, visiting the botanical gardens and greenhouses have forever been my favorite and when I discovered Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh a few years back I knew we had to make a trip. I shared all about our first visit last year here on the blog (here) and we recently made another trip! This trip was even better than the last, even though at the time, it was too cold to go outdoors. I just loved that it was a green oasis in the middle of colder weather, perfect for all of us with spring fever. My spring fever starts the day after Christmas, every single year without fail, and since Pennsylvania winters are never ending (or at least it seems to feel that way until around the end of April) this was the perfect way to get my green fix in. All the beautiful leaves and trees and bushes and flowers and growing things, what made this trip even better than last time, was the fact that the temperature inside the conservatory was absolutely perfect this time AND the citrus trees were blooming and putting on fruit! If you know me at all, you know how absolutely obsessed I am with citrus fruit of every single kind. Oranges, clementines, grapefruit, lemons, limes, pomelo... they're all my favorite. Oranges especially are my favorite and are actually sentimental to me because (well, it's a long story), but my husband and I actually met because of oranges! It was so fun to see real citrus trees with fruit and blossoms.


And the aroma of Phipps Conservatory... don't even get me started. Heavenly is only a mild way to describe it. Imagine a million flowers surrounding you and filling the air with the lightest, sweetest floral scent imaginable, it smells just like that, only better.

The orchids were another favorite, so many orchids everywhere, I just love how dainty and delicate they are, as well as the amazing smells that radiate from them. The ferns, the fiddle leaf fig trees, the banana trees, the collection of bonsai trees, so many good things that can't be missed.

Make sure to head on out to Phipps Conservatory to catch all of the green goodness for yourself, the perfect place to find you and your family for a relaxing day of nature enjoyment!

7.22.2018

THE BEST NURSING FRIENDLY DRESS WITH CLEO MADISON

I'm always on the hunt for new dresses, and with a new baby on the way, unfortunately not all dresses are going to be practical anymore since I'm planning on breastfeeding again. So lately I've been drawn to wrap dresses and dresses with buttons, like this pretty dress, the Meredith dress in Sage, from one of my newest favorite modest clothing boutiques, Cleo Madison, a super cute boutique with the prettiest outfits and great prices. I just love the color of this dress, as well as the functional side to it since the buttons on the chest unbutton to accommodate breastfeeding, making it the perfect nursing friendly dress for all of you mamas with little ones, or mamas to be. And guess what? It also works great for all the ladies who don't have little ones and aren't expecting too!


I'm loving that it works for my growing bump too since I'm not breastfeeding yet and I just feel so feminine and pretty in this dress. It's perfect for every day wear if you'd like, or I wore it to church today and it was just perfect!

I'm also loving these tan Melrose sandals that Cleo Madison was so kind to send my way, they go with literally everything I own since they're such a nice natural color and complete practically any outfit, plus they're perfect for the entire summer!


If you're needing a super cute dress or any other outfit, check out all the great pieces over at Cleo Madison!