Hillary to Paris

White Denim in Minimalist Fashion

July 24, 2019 by Hillary Wortham Leave a Comment

Shirt / Denim / Boots better price here / Sandals better price here / Tote / French Market Bag

Summer is such a magical time of year for many reasons. The crisp burst of orange from a sunset, the romantic scent a warm rainstorm, and the lush greenery that ornaments every summer setting are a few of my favorite things. There is one special gift of summer that I especially love, and that is the wearing of all things white.

This is a color that dominates half of my wardrobe. White, cream, and eggshell are three colors that are only out of place when you stand next to a bride. White is the most universal color and I haven’t seen anyone that it looks unpleasant on.

However, white pants can be a tricky affair. MOTHER denim saved the day with the most fabulous pair of white high waisted culotte denim pants. These jeans were a fun online purchase that I had little faith in after reading the model was a full four inches taller than me. After trying them on myself I am convinced that MOTHER denim is the alpha and omega in denim design. if you haven’t given them a try yet I highly suggest taking advantage of their 10% off your first purchase here. You won’t be disappointed.

White can be difficult to wear with a messy baby in tow, but it is still the color that makes me feel most myself. This outfit instantly reminded me of our ‘white out’ pep rallies in high school. The varsity cheerleaders wore white uniforms which glowed under the black lights for the festivity. Once I finally got to be on Varsity and wear one of those glowing uniforms myself I felt on top of the world.

We all have an outfit that holds this kind of feeling for us. It may be anything from a jersey to a stiletto. Identifying what piece it is that makes you feel like you’re glowing is so important.Feeling more yourself is always worth the extra effort. I hope you are feeling great in what you are wearing today!

Thanks for stopping by!

-Hill

Shirt / Denim / Boots better price here / Sandals better price here / Tote / French Market Bag

Photography by Shelley Foster

6 baby product must haves

July 16, 2019 by Hillary Wortham Leave a Comment

Bassinet / Dock a Tot / Swaddle / Moby Wrap / Mattress/ Carseat /& one for mom breast pump

Where I suggest saving you money : blankets, pacifiers, or clothing

If you’re reading this for yourself and your child, congratulations! Parenthood is the most rewarding journey. You will gain immeasurable joy, and lose sleep in place of it. There is no way I could have ever been prepared but here are some words of the products that carried us through with comfort.

I could talk about baby products all day but feel this conversation is a repetitive one so I will be straight to the point. Baby gear can get insanely expensive and I want to value your money like you do. Don’t worry about spending on blankets, pacifiers, or clothing. This is a place you can save your money. If you know anyone in this world, you will receive baby clothes and blankets as gifts. Embrace this with gracious thanks and spend on things that people will not buy. If you must buy baby clothes, and sometimes you must, go for pajamas only. I love Kyte Baby for every stage.

Here are my must have items when becoming a new parent but I’d like to explain two things first.

1) Your money is precious, and you really just need a carseat and diapers for this little bundle of perfection you’re bringing home. The rest amazon will deliver in case of need.

2) This process is a tough one and comfort is what I am offering here. These products are what helped my newborn and I acheive comfort in the intense transition.

Where I believe it is worth every penny: a.k.a.the purchase of sleep and/or efficiency

Bassinet / Dock a Tot / Swaddle / Moby Wrap / Mattress/ Carseat / & one for mom breast pump

These truly are all must haves either for your registry or personal purchase. These can be purchased, borrowed or begged for but it would be worth getting them in your home.

The Bassinet – I loved this Halo bassinet because it allowed me the peace of sleeping as close to Jolene as I could without the fear smuthering. I was worried of suffocating her and the possible death that could be prevented by avoiding co sleeping. We slept side by side in safety with this bassinet able to practically sit on my mattress.

The Dock a Tot– This pillowy product was an answer to our sleep deprived prayers. This product is not what I would recommend having them sleep in if they don’t need because it is technically a lounger but Jolene loved to sleep in it and I let her for the first three months. It gave her comfort when I couldn’t hold her as she slept. This product also helped her transition to sleeping in her crib at 6 weeks old as well. Jolene has been an excellent sleeper at night since she was six weeks old. I attribute much of that success to the smooth start the Dock a tot gave us. It is difficult to put a price on sleep but $175 sounded like a deal to me.

The Swaddle – I bought a dozen different swaddles before Jo was born and had them washed and ready. Everything from basic to designer. This swaddle was the ONLY one she would tolerate and I believe it is a priceless piece of fabric but you can order it on amazon here.

The Moby Wrap – This wrap was the best invention for the modern day mother. I am sure parents would have killed for it centuries ago. This product made it possible to be productive while Jolene slept on me or was simply wanting to be held.

The Mattress– This product is pricey but it gave me much needed confidence in safe sleep when Jolene started sleeping on her own.

The Carseat – This one has been a great purchase for us. The safety rating were topping all of the charts in 2018 and coming in first or at worst second in 2019. Pick a carseat you love but that is safety rated above anything else. Flashy brand names aren’t worth impressing anyone.

and last but not least…the one must have in the newborn stage for mom. The breast pump is necessary whether you are breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or both. If you gave birth to your newborn milk will come and it is important to have a way to extract it quickly if needed. This breast pump has been a wonderful investment and worked well for 8 months now.

This phase is a true metamorphosis for parent and child. It is a miraculous chapter to be gifted with. I hope you embrace the present moment with all of it’s messiness in pregnancy or parenting.

-Hill

Photography by Shelley Foster

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

July 11, 2019 by Hillary Wortham Leave a Comment

The Nordstrom Anniversary sale is here and one of the biggest sales of the year. This is a great opportunity to get some real bang for your buck. If you are shopping for fall necessities with family in mind or stocking up on holiday gifts this is a great stop. The sale is massive and can get overwhelming. I am not sure if it is the timer on the website in bright yellow or the amount of items selling out in record time but it is crazy. I have linked my favorite pieces on the sale and ones that I know will be popular.

Tips on shopping the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!

-When shopping this sale I go in with a few things in mind to be effective.

Go into the sale with a list of items in mind that you need for yourself or for upcoming gifts. Nearly all of my gifted holiday gifts last December were bought on this Nordstrom sale and I saved hundreds by shopping months ahead. With a list in hadn’t it will make it faster to navigate the categories of the sale before things sell out.
When you find something you like don’t wait to check out.Nordstrom has free shipping on all orders so you don’t have to worry about waiting until you have everything you want in cart to checkout. The sale is a fantastic opportunity to shop but they won’t hold you items for long. The best of the sale sells out super fast.
Stock to brands that will hold value and be in style this fall and next. I have seen many styles that were bigger last season than they will be this year because they are phasing out (EX: distressed skinny jeans). Shopping brands like Mother denim, Vince, and Marc Fisher will ensure you snag styles that are on the cusp of trend instead of nearing its end.
Stock up on quality cozy items that you will use year round! This is where I shop for pajamas, robes, and slippers that I will get great use out of. Gifts for the holidays or upcoming birthdays can fit easily into this category of cozy shopping. I like to have a few gifts on hand stamped with ‘one size fits all‘ sticker that I can wrap for any occasion.This sale is a great opportunity to stock up on those for family members or friends birthdays in the future.

Cozy favorites:

Ugg slippers / UGG sweatshirt / UGG sweatpants / Blanket

The UGG slippers are great quality and perfect for gifting if you know your loved ones size. As for the sweatsuit I would definitely say it runs large as my usual size was falling off my hips. I would size down if you are in between sizes. The Ugg blanket I love for a holiday gift or even a house warming gift for truly anyone that uses a blanket.

Tops and Sweaters:

Nordstrom Signature Cashmere shell / Vince Cashmere sweater / Leith Longline Cardigan / Carslon thermal top /Calson cozy sweatshirt

This is truly the best time of year to purchase cashmere. I have to laugh while typing that because we are predicted to hit 100 degrees in Dallas today. Buying cashmere nearly Half off is always a good time to buy. These pieces are warm for fall and are stylish pieces you will get use out of for years to come.

Denim:

MOTHER denim /Madewell Denim in Black /MOTHER Denim with side stripes

I can’t say enough good things about MOTHER denim and I love everything they produce. They do run true to size and are super flattering on everyone I have seen them on. If you are looking for a quality pair of designer denim this is a great sale for you.

Shoes:

Gigietta Bootie / Adidas white sneaker / Marc Fisher Flats / Black Heeled Booties / UGG slippers

The best part of the Nordstrom Sale this year is the shoes. The Nordstrom team has selected an incredible variety of fall shoes that will leave you wanting more than one pair in your shopping cart. Here are a few of may favorites.

When you are able to shop the Nordstrom Anniversary sale don’t forget to click through the links here or on the Like to Know it App to anything you decide to purchase. I am able to keep Hillary to Paris running because of the small commission I receive by providing you with items you would like to purchase. Thank you so much for reading!

-Hill

Photography by Shelley Foster