Wow- where do I even begin? Times are changing and they are changing at a rapid rate. It is hard to know what to post and what not to post here. However, this is a collaboration that has been in the works for a while and to keep things a little less heavy, I thought I would go ahead and post.

Serena and Lily has been my go-to for home decor for quite some time now. Their aesthetic is coastal casual and that’s exactly the feel I am trying to incorporate into my home decor.

I have changed out 3 chairs for more natural seating. I feel it really brings a casual but more put together and polished look to the space. The first area I changed- and probably the area that had the biggest transformation is one of the corners of the bedroom. It had become a catch-all for clothes and whatnot. Just an absolute mess. I had always wanted a hanging chair and it wasn’t until recently that I had the ‘ah ha’ moment to put it in the bedroom. By just adding the one hanging rattan chair and a pillow, throw blanket, and sheepskin throw, it has now become the best little reading nook in the entire house. The chair is actually so much more comfortable than we were expecting and the leather pouf makes for easier swinging. Since it seems everyone is going to be confined to their houses for the foreseeable future, it is nice to have a little escape to read a book or just relax.

The other space I made over was our downstairs tv/living room. This room has been a major work in progress and has come a long way. The issue we were having is that the two accent chairs were far too big for the space and quite uncomfortable. By adding the Venice chairs (and cushions) the space just makes more sense now. The chairs are much more proportional plus I love that you can see through the bamboo into the other room. The chairs are also lower than the previous ones so in addition to seeing through them, you can also see over them. It doesn’t sound like a big deal but it actually makes a huge positive change for the space. I will also say, these chairs are so much more comfortable than the old ones.

Here are the before pictures:

I am so happy with both the mini makeovers. The natural seating adds a breath of much-needed fresh air to both rooms and I couldn’t love it more! Thank you to Serena and Lily for partnering with me on this post. As always, all opinions are my own and genuine.

When Tula recently launched their newest primer– I got so many questions for a comparison with their existing blurring primer. I am hoping this post will answer all of your questions!

The newest primer is for brightening and smoothing, versus the original primer which was for blurring out imperfections. Both are fantastic but very different. Both are also non-comedogenic meaning they won’t clog your pores.

The newbie has no pigment. It goes on clear and instantly gives your skin a cooling sensation that I love. It creates a very smooth canvas to apply your makeup to. I also find it to be quite hydrating which is nice. It is a thicker consistency than the blurring primer and comes in a 1.4 oz tub for $34- or $28 when you use code MRSCOCO at checkout.

The blurring primer gives your skin pigment. It goes on white but blends to give a smooth finish. This primer is build-able so if you want more coverage, you can add another layer. What is good about this primer is that if you are very minimal with your makeup, this can be your first and last step since it does give some coverage. It is a thinner consistency than the first primer and comes in a 1 oz tube for $34- or $28 with code MRSCOCO.

Lastly- I know this product is not a primer but it is absolutely the best Tula product ever, hands down. Their glow and get it eye balm is such a game-changer and it lasts FOREVER. I am not kidding when I say I keep one in my bathroom, one in my gym bag and one in my purse. It gives the most amazing cooling effect to the under eye and instantly brightens with the illumination it leaves behind. The price is $28 or $23 with code MRSCOCO.

Again, I hope this post was helpful! Feel free to reach out with any questions you have regarding Tula!

This marks our third cruise in three years with the kiddos in tow. This post is in no way sponsored (I wish!) but I still feel the need to let you know that. All opinions are my own. You can read my Symphony of the Seas blog post HERE and my Carnival —- HERE.

Why did we pick this cruise? We have found that in general, we prefer Royal Caribbean over other cruise lines. We did the huge Symphony of the Seas cruise ship two years ago and we wanted to go on another of the huge boats. The Oasis of the Seas very recently got a major facelift and upgrades so we went with it. I am *pretty sure* the Oasis of the Seas was the original mega cruise ship.

The boat is definitely nice. I do feel like the Symphony of the Seas was better though. Things I remember being better: Our state room was bigger, there were outlets on both sides of the bed and in the bathroom and the couch pulled out into a trundle (the one in our room now pulls out into a huge bed and takes up a ton of space when opened). The main areas of the ships are essentially indistinguishable (restaurants, Boardwalk, ice rink, pools, slides, etc.), but the rooms itself was better on the Symphony of the Seas. That’s all that comes to mind at the moment. I will add more if I can think of anything else.

Pros–

The food on RC ships far exceeds that of any other company. The variety is also above and beyond anything else we have experienced.

The dining staff is phenomenal. I will say though- it seems like across all cruise lines, the waitstaff and cleaning staff are just amazing. So attentive and nice.

Cons–

There is very little storage in our stateroom. There was definitely more on the Symphony of the Seas. There’s not a ton of space to unpack- snacks, drinks and clothes. Things are just in random piles because there isn’t any place to put things.

Breakfast- I have been going on cruises for many years. One of my favorite things has always been ordering room service breakfast and eating it on the balcony. Now it seems as though the room service breakfast is quite limited. You are able to get fruit, cereals, pastries and coffee/juices. You can no longer get eggs, hash browns, etc unless you want to pay an added fee. I am not sure when this changed but I found this disappointing.

YOUR FAQS:

Sleeping situation? Best way to create a separate sleeping space for kids who go to bed early? If you need a separate sleeping space for kids, you may need to get a suite. We’ve heard getting two adjoining rooms can sometimes be more cost-effective. Not sure if Disney offers some other workaround. Otherwise the whole family is all in one room. Rooms vary in terms of trundles, bunkbeds, etc. Check with the cruise line.

Do I worry about coronavirus/norovirus/illness? Yes. Hand-washing and alcohol hand sanitizing is emphasized and mandatory throughout the ship. We are as diligent as we can be. The cruise line does everything they can to protect the passengers. Cruises are such great vacations for us that we accept the risk.

Fav cruise line? Royal Caribbean. We’ve also been on Carnival and Norwegian. Haven’t tried Princess or Celebrity or Disney. Of the three we’ve been on, Royal Caribbean consistently has been the best experience.

Claustrophobic? Not really. The ships are so huge that our kids frequently ask us if we are still on the boat! On sea days the ship can feel crowded at times, but we can always retreat to our room for privacy and quiet. We choose a room with a balcony, which gives us extra space and is incredibly relaxing and amazing. I wouldn’t say it’s any different than being in a really busy hotel.

Packing list, tips for cruise travel? One major tip is check if your cruise ship has laundry available to you. In some cases there is self-serve, in others they’ll give you a decent-sized bag and it’ll be a flat fee of around $25. The rooms are small and there isn’t a lot of storage space. Pack wisely. We bring every possible medicine we could possibly need so we don’t need to go visit the doctor if something straightforward comes up. We might be a bit on the obsessive side…

Day care on the boat? Yes. Day care is available for all ages and all hours. Late-night daycare is extra $. We are always amazed that you can leave your 3 year-old at the activity center until 1am. And No… we’ve never done that!

Best room to get to avoid feeling the motion of the boat? Not sure. We choose a room near the middle of the ship. The ships are HUGE. Being in the middle just makes it more convenient to get anywhere. I am very very prone to motion sickness and have never had an issue. My mom is even more prone than I am and she has almost never had an issue either.

Is it safe to go to Haiti? Royal Caribbean takes you to Labadee, which they advertise as being Haiti. Yes, it is in Haiti. However it’s really just a huge private beach. Unless you book an excursion (not sure if it’s even an option) you’re not visiting Haiti in any really significant way. It is completely secluded and private… and it’s beautiful.

I hope you guys found this post helpful! If you have anymore specific questions- please feel free to reach out to me and ask! Again- this was in no way sponsored by Royal Caribbean. All opinions are my own!

Hi! I have had so many requests to share more office-ready pieces. Today I’m super excited to share an amazing 9-5 outfit from J. Crew Factory. Right now, they are running an in-store promotion- all wear-to-work styles are 50% off through 3/1 and online you will find lots of wear-to-work deals through 2/28!

A couple years ago (seriously, time flies!) I became obsessed with the J.Crew Factory sweater blazer and even coined the hashtag #babesinblazers where so many of you shared your outfits in the beloved blazer. To me, the blazer is the number one piece to have for your professional office wardrobe. It can be styled in so many different ways, you’ll never feel like you’re wearing the same outfit every day. I size down in it because I like the arms to be slightly more fitted. One of my favorite pieces to pair underneath the blazer is the famous scalloped camisole. This piece is an absolute staple and comes in so many colors! Of course, when I saw that it is now carried in leopard, I had to have it! For this piece, I get a size 2. I am in between a 0 and 2 but the straps are adjustable so I would rather have it a little looser than a little tighter.

My pants are fabulous! If you are looking for a classic pair of black ankle pants, these are them! They aren’t too tight, they have a little stretch and they look very professional. I took my regular size in these- I am 5’5 and you can see they are ankle-length.

Lastly, comfortable heels are key! J.Crew Factory has done it again this season with these block heels. I love the squared toe, chunky tortoise heel and gold detail. I took my regular size in these. If you are in between, I would suggest sizing up.

Thank you to J.Crew Factory for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts and ideas are my own and genuine.

It’s February – which means spring is right around the corner. It also means that I’m back at Walmart searching for affordable and trendy items for the season! Just as in years past, I rely on Walmart to help me get my spring fashion items so the minute the snow melts I’m all dressed up and ready to go! In this post, I am sharing the most perfect spring utility jacket! I love the tie detail in the front and the overall style. You can totally dress it up or down, depending on how you style. it. I am wearing a small for reference. Also, I have shared these metallic loafers before but they are THAT GOOD. So comfortable, totally neutral but with a hint of shiny fun. The fit is true to size and they even come with memory foam insoles!

Thank you to Walmart for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions are my own and genuine.