Well New York has been off to an exciting start! You have to remember, the last time I lived here, I was in my 20's, working a 9-7 job, single, and living in a shoe box studio.

Now, 8 years later I'm back and I'm a complete 180! I'm in my 30's, own my own business on my own time, I'm married with a daughter, and living in an apartment {and life!} of my dreams. 

So yes, New York has been fun. But... there was something missing...

I was invited (and honored) to host a Mother's Day event in conjuntion with Cybex (the high end stroller and car seat company) and Fashion Mamas (a members-only organization that brings together working mamas in the fashion industry). 

This event came at the perfect time for me. Amist relishing the new adventure that was New York City, came a deep loneliness -- missing my mama friends, companions, and co-workers in Los Angeles whom I had grown so close to -- sharing every silly detail about our parenting existance. 

Although relationships like that never fade, it was important that I carved new relationships with like-minded mothers in New York City, so I jumped on the opportunity to host an event that catered to ultimate boss mamas. 

The company, the decor, the florals, the food, and the laughs... it was all divine! Thank you to all who attended my Mother's Day brunch. I loved meeting each and every one of you! Until next time...

XO

So, yeah, it's been quite a little bit of time since my last post. I'll give it to you straight.

...It was a perfect day in LA, 80 degrees. I had spent the day chasing my daughter around our pool in the backyard, our dog following our every move. A classic, "ahh haaa...LA is simply the best" kind of day. Then my husband came home from work and dropped a mini bomb on us... we kinda, sorta, maybe, probably, had to move to NYC within the month. {For his job.}

WHAT?

I was sad for like... one week. Devastated. Crushed.

Our perfect LA life was over in the blink of an eye. Both my husband and I were from NYC-- we knew exactly what we were getting into moving back to the city. It wasn't a life we wanted. 

OK, SO THEN...

The Stoneman Douglas High School shooting happened. Instantly I didn't care ONE bit about my move. Why on earth did it matter that I was moving across the country with my happy and healthy family? I felt so blessed just to be able to experience this life with the people I cherish most. 

In the end, I reminded myself that life isn't always the stick figure drawing you made up in school. A four person family holding hands in front of your square house-- instead, it's most certainly a scribbled up version of just that. It's the eraser marks and the wobbly lines in between the final portrait. And I learned that quickly with this move. Yes-- I miss LA deeply, but we will be back, one day very soon. In the meantime, I'm going to live the best life I can live with the people I love most, wherever that may be.

So from that awakening onwards, it's just been GREEN LIGHT. Pack, sort, shuffle, organize, rent, buy, store, save, hire, fire. MOVE.

And that's how we did it. Welcome to Elshanesworld.com... the New York City edition!

Pass me an exaggerated sleeve and dare me not to werk it!

This dress gives me all the feels... the bow, the sleeve, the gingham, the leg. It's one of those dresses that is a welcome closet addition because it's truly like nothing else.

It's a teaser into fall fashion. Something that doesn't yet scream- ICEBERG RIGHT AHEAD. And also doesn't scream- AT THE BEACH BOY!

Plus, it's on sale for $60. Click my shoppable links below to check her out!

Of all the memories I have spending my 20's living in New York, the crispest of those memories were those spent on rooftops. In the concrete jungle, there's no such thing as a backyard, so rooftops easily become coveted outdoor space. 

Day drinking, sun tanning, happy hour cocktail'n, all-night rooftop ragers... ok, I'm noticing a theme... rooftops and drinking definitely went hand in hand (LOL). It felt good to be back in my stomping grounds doing what I love to do most-- sip vino and stare at the endless NYC skyline.

Plus, this dress didn't hurt the view... 

I'll never forget at work one day (back when I handled public relations and styling at the Diane von Furstenberg HQ), Diane breezed by my desk, as she always did, taking note of her surroundings, and offering the most rewarding smirks along the way. Only this time, she stopped at my best friend's desk, and opened her mouth...

"Kate, you look like an Italian movie star." Ok, but seriously, imagine those words in a fabulous mixed European tone with accents on all the rights words. Italian. Star. 

Kate was effortless that day. She went super au-natural with her hair (thanks to her genes though, picture long, thick Lea Michele locks, half brushed), and was wearing an easy day dress with no fuss. She was an Italian movie star! She was natural, feminine, and raw. 

Kate and I will never forget that moment... Kate sought out to look like an Italian movie star every day forward after that. And I envisioned my life without the extra blue eyeliner, yellow nails, curled hair, and stacks of bangles. (Sigh!?)

And sometimes, just sometimes, the Italian movie star comes out in me, like this moment in NYC. <3

Traveling with a toddler? It's not easy, no matter how you slice it.

The flight is a nightmare (they just want to run the aisles when the seat belt sign is on). The packing is insane (day diapers, night diapers, snacks, cute outfits, spill-able outfits).

And then there's the "stuff"... the stroller, the car seat, the lovie blanket, the sound machine. 

Now that Sunday's walking running, having an "SUV" stroller as I call them (think Bugaboo Cam, UppaBaby Vista, Baby City Mini), is completely unnecessary. They're bulky, they don't fit through narrow spaces, and they're so heavy to lug around.

So here it is... I found the most incredible "umbrella" stroller-- as you can see it folds up to the size of a bread crumb... and it even has a shoulder strap so you can carry it around (it weighs 13 lbs, as opposed to my 24 lb Bugaboo)! It's absolutely the perfect travel essential.

So there you have it. Yet another necessity to add to your ever-growing baby list!

Been inching my way into fall fashion lately, despite the 90 degree morning wake up calls.

The only justifiable way to get excited about fall at this point is by slowly investing in fall tops. Bow blouses are so killer right now since denim is e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g in fashion and you {duh} need something fresh to pair with your new jeans. However, since it's still a heat wave, these distressed jean shorts were an appropriate trade-off of the moment.

But I'm picturing this bow blouse for fall with a perfectly worn in pair of ever-so-slightly distressed denim skinny jeans, tucked in, with a killer monster platform shoe! {Currently coveting the Stella McCartney oxfords....eek....why are they so expensive??? SOS!!!!} You get the idea. So fresh, so fly.

Point of the story? I shopped the internet for some of my favorite of-the-moment bow blouses for you to get your hands on now. All contemporary, chic, and timeless! Check the Shop My Look section below for details!

Photographs taken on the Long Beach boardwalk on Long Island, NY.

I'm not sure why I didn't think of this sooner. 

This matching mommy- daughter moment is something I will never forget (oh, I know why... because I've repeated this outfit four times already...in different states... with different friends... at different parties).

I can't wait to continue to find ways to match my little one. Do you think my husband will ever get on board? That's a big, fat, NO! But I'm up for the challenge...

This entire matching lewk is available online! The baby romper is from GAP and my top is currently breaking the internet with coolness overload.

What do you think of the momma and baby matching moment? Would you do it? How about with your son? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section!