Skirts. Skirts.

They're good for your ego.

The more you wear them,

The more your legs show.

The more your legs show,

The better you feel.

So wear more skirts,

They're the real deal!

Whereas most mamas I've encountered run toward the opportunity to start giving their babies solid foods at the four month mark, I was really happy to sit back and wait until the other recommended age, six months. Sunday could hardly sit up on her own at four and five months, so the thought of her swallowing and digesting food just didn't yet make sense in my mind.

Fast forward to five and a half months...

I blinked and the girl was crawling around the house at lightening speed, sitting up on her own, and saying "dada" as frequently as a I chant "Chanel". {I know... HELP!}. So just like that, I knew it was time to whip out "the Bentley of high chairs, and the Harvard of baby food makers" as my husband so accurately jokes!

Like most other infant essentials, the process of finding "the right" high chair was daunting. I saw some with bells, some with whistles, and some just completely aesthetically chic (and unchic for that matter). Every mom had an opinion, and I was a little too tired to care, to tell you the truth.

I did my own research and found the newest high chair on the market, made by 4moms, the company that created my favorite vibrating swing and bath tub that Sunday rocks, so I investigated further. 

What I discovered is that this high chair is a-c-t-u-a-l-l-y the best. She seat belts in like a sturdy champ, the tray pops on and off with one hand (because you're obviously holding baby with your other hand while getting her in and out), and the entire chair can be wiped clean with one swipe of a wet paper towel.

Don't think I forgot to mention the coolest part. The tray is magnetized, and 4moms makes magnetic bowls and utensils. Think about this... a bowl that is magnetically stuck to the tray to defy baby's strong, strong desire to throw plates filled with food across the room. (Side note-- if baby tries hard enough, yes, she can break the magnetic bond. Maybe that's just because Sunday is The Hulk, though). 

Also, I found it interesting that 4moms decided to make their high chair sit lower than your standard high chair. I wondered why until I started using mine. It's at the perfect height for you to sit down in your chair at the table, and feed your baby at eye level. It's genius. 

As a super busy working mom, I was nervous that I wouldn't be able to give Sunday the most carefully thought out, nutritious meals. I saw a lot of moms on Facebook constantly whipping up the most ridiculous baby meals and I just didn't have the time or patience to go down that road. 

Cue BabyBrezza brand (remember my #1 must have newborn essential blog post, featuring their formula maker, which I still use every four hours of my life), coming in for the win!!

They make a 1-step glass baby food maker which is every busy mom's best friend. After filling the machine up with purified water and tossing in any raw, uncooked organic chopped concoction, just throw a lid on it, and press the steam and puree button and, you my friend, just cooked your baby a nutritious meal! You, meaning ME! I became ONE OF THOSE FACEBOOK MOMS; all because of this food maker. 

(Bragging Rights: Last week I made my husband a clean roasted chicken with roasted carrots, Brussel sprouts, and squash. After dinner, I grabbed some of the remaining leftovers and threw it ALL in the BabyBrezza at once-- the chicken, carrots, Brussels, and squash-- and pressed the puree button and had myself a stock of Gwyneth Paltrow-approved baby food for days to come. Sunday LOVED it! I also froze a bunch of it in these convenient freezer square savers to reintroduce to her next month. If you follow me @elshanesworld on Instagram, you would see these exciting shenanigans on my Instagram Stories.)

So that's my solid foods story. This is only the beginning...

HEY! Like the content on the blog? Please comment in the comments section and let me know how you feel! 

Free the legs!!!!

We've all heard it enough, athleisure is taking over the fashion space in a big way, but what is exciting and new to share to the world is that the silhouette of the women's workout pant is expanding (literally and figuratively), finally!

I love me a good yoga legging, but something just felt right about putting on these not too loose, but not too tight jogger sweatpants for my workout. It gave me a little fire in my step and a little extra motivation in my workout. 

Yeah, OK, I got some "oohs and ahhs" at the gym. Some wandering eyes... "What is she wearing? Are those sweatpants?" "Wait, no they're Lululemon workout pants that give her a little more swag than our BASIC spandex," they all gasped in exhilaration! (In their heads, I know this for a fact!)

I wore them to dance class and felt a little more soul in my step. And then of course I wore them around town for the rest of the day and felt like I was in pajamas. It was a great day.

**Pant sizing: I stuck with my true size-- Lululemon's smallest size which is a 2-- I tried the 4 because I wanted them nice and roomy but the 4 was way too big for me.**

It's not everyday that you find yourself along a dirt road, riding in a pickup truck, listening to Darius Rucker sing the sorrows of yesterday. Then again, maybe that's a constant for you. But not me, no way. So when I go, I go hard...

Like, totally... situation dressing at its finest. :)

Drop crotch leather pants and a white tee would be a natural staple for me, but adding the woven Tejas-inspired cape brought me right where I needed to be-- in the center of a deserted highway in west Texas.

It all just felt so right.

I'm having flashbacks to my perfectly curated home. The home that had every corner prop-styled and Pinterest-photo ready... Do you have similar flashbacks these days?

Fortunately (at least as of now), only one room in my house has been taken over by the baby storm. And double fortunately, toys these days are so darn cute that I don't even mind! 

My first step in baby takeover land was getting one of those foam mats -- that's sort of an entryway into motherhood, right? But, the thought of having one of those multi-colored ABC mats truly freaked me OUT! Instead, I found this SkipHop foam mat that I had so much fun putting together. The squares and circles are interchangeable so you can make the mat as wild or monochromatic as desired. I went for a middle ground!

Yes, let's now side note to Sunday's ridiculously cute romper. Have you ever met a baby butt you didn't wanted to squeeze? There's just something about little pockets on baby bums that will get me every single time.

The romper is by Mainio and you can't deny it-- you want one for yourself, too. I can read your mind.

This activity box has been an A++ learning toy for Sunday lately. It can flip to five different sides, each showing Sunday a unique hand/eye coordinating skill. And wooden toys are chic, so there's that, too...

Sunday's finally big enough to sit on her Yummy World pink donut chair. What this really means is that my Instagram is about to be bombarded by pink plush furniture photos. Can't wait!

You'll see a bunch of Apple Park toys scattered across the play mat. There's a purple musical turtle and a few adorable soft 3-D ABC blocks. A bunch of friends introduced me to the Apple Park toy brand when Sunday was a tiny tot because the toys are made of organic and eco-friendly materials. As someone who was never into the whole organic craze before baby, it's comforting to know that whatever Sunday is putting in her mouth is as safe as possible.

Lastly I have to give a shout out to my JellyCat unicorn. Why didn't we have stuffed animals THIS SOFT when we were growing up? If you've never felt a JellyCat stuffed animal, then I'm sorry but you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about.

Part of me wants to take this unicorn to bed with me every night for a snuggle. Needless to say, Sunday is obsessed with all of her JellyCats! (She has a pink poodle, too.)

We're redefining casual fall attire here on Elshane's World.

A cozy gaucho pant, a semi cropped shirt (this is the true definition of a reverse mullet top, right? Party in the front, business in the back...), and this season's MUST... a fur slide!

I opted for these GORGEOUS Brother Vellies fur slides because they are luxurious but a lot more affordable than their Givenchy and Gucci counterparts. I've never been so inclined to slide my little bare toes into a fall flat until now. 

Also, finding new ways to wear heirloom pieces like my vintage Chanel brooch, as a bejeweled tie at the top of a crisp shirt, is my cue for instant glamour.

How glamorously comfortable is this vibe?!

Being a beach babe never felt so REAL!

Taking babez to the beach can be a really fun experience-- if you're prepared! Fortunately, the Virgo in me had us packed up and ready to go the night before-- and it was an utter success.

Here are our beach essentials that I recommend not leaving home without:

1. Your baby carrier (I use a BabyBjorn). When schlepping all of the bags, chairs, tents, dogs {Wouldn't leave home without Homer, of course!} you need all the hands you can manage. Keeping baby on your chest is a safe and easy way to "set up shop". 

2. A tent!!!! So necessary. Alternately you can use a pack and play and put a fitted crib sheet over the top for shade. The tent is necessary for 90% of baby's beach time. Sunday took her naps in the tent, did her tummy time, and we also changed her diapers in there. She was only outside of the tent for short intervals throughout the day since the sun was so bright and we didn't want her to get too much sun exposure.

3. BabyGanics SPF 50 sunscreen. No explanation needed.

4. Long sleeve clothing, a sun hat, a sweater, and extra changes of clothing. I'd rather have a hot baby than a burnt baby any day of the week! Sunday is wearing SkipHop's newest long sleeve collection which I have been loving now that the weather is cooling down a bit.

5. U-Line plastic drawstring bags. This is a classic stylist hack-- these U-Line plastic bags are my go-to for everything, from packing for a trip, to a day at the beach. They're drawstring, big enough to fit a stack of folded clothing, and perfect for everything from separating sandy/wet clothes from clean burp cloths, to organizing toys and accessories. They're durable and reusable!

6. A monogrammed baby beach towel. Ok, you caught me. This is NOT an essential, but it should be. Sunday rocked her monogrammed unicorn beach towel and she meant business. I don't know about you, but I've never personally owned a monogrammed beach towel. And I'm pretty sad about it. Plus, they're on sale now here for under $15. Great baby gift idea!!

There is so much history for me behind this Prada Marfa art installation. The full story is here, which goes into detail about a flea market, a sharpie, and a world renowned photographer and now friend. Worth the read (plus you get a mini house tour of my home so basically, you're welcome! Have a cocktail!)

But in short (because I know all of you have now read the full story), I completed the epic circle of love. Who knew then, at that time, doing all of those things, that I'd actually end up HERE. In good ol' Marfa, Texas.

The box is officially checked.