Currently Loving .187

Happy Friday! I hope you've had a great week! My week has been busy as I continue to work from home, taxied the girls to and from dance classes, and prepped for our beach trip. In case you missed it, yesterday I shared my Ocean Isle Beach Packing List. We are headed to the beach today and I couldn't be more excited. Just hoping for lots of good weather and sunshine!

Today, I'm sharing my weekly roundup of what I'm Currently Loving! There are lots of items this week from Madewell, my very favorite store. I could easily make a roundup with all Madewell items every week. I just love their style!

Which of this week's picks is your favorite?!

1. S W E A T E R  T A N K | I am really loving sweater tanks this spring and summer, especially ivory/cream colored ones. They are just so pretty and feminine! I love pairing them with denim shorts and gold accessories. I think I need to add this one to my collection!

2. B E L T  B A G  | I bought my first belt bag last summer and I didn't regret it! I now own two belt bags and they are the perfect hands free option. I love wearing one when I'm shopping or traveling. They are also great to wear with dresses and skirts! I love this new style from Madewell. Their bags are always such great quality! You can see my whole Madewell bag collection in this blog post from earlier this year.

3. S A N D A L S | I have a thing for metallic sandals! I already own three pairs and I really love this pair as well. They are a great neutral pair to go with all of your summer outfits!

4. T O T E | Speaking of Madewell bags, I love their canvas totes! I have one in a different animal print and it's such a great bag. It holds so much without being super bulky. A great bag!

5. D E N I M  S H O R T S | When I'm not in gym clothes during the summer then I'm most likely wearing denim shorts. I am loving this pair! Everlane has great quality denim for a really great price. You can feel good investing in their denim because it really lasts and it's so well made. I love this length of this pair. They can be worn rolled or unrolled so they are super versatile!

6. R U N N I N G  S H O R T S | I just ordered this pair of running shorts... except I will probably never, ever run in them. I'm not a runner, walking is definitely more my speed! But, I really love wearing running shorts for a comfy, everyday look during warm weather. They are my personal alternative to wearing leggings when it's hot outside. I love the five inch inseam and rise of this pair. I can't wait for them to arrive!

7. E A R R I N G S | Dainty gold jewels is a personal favorite of mine. A great pair of everyday earrings!

8. H E A D B A N D | I already own and love this leopard print headband. I share it with my daughters because they love it too! It's the most comfortable headband that I have ever worn. Even with hour of wear, I have no discomfort. It's also on sale for less than $12!

Thanks so much for visiting! I hope you have a great weekend (and a great upcoming week). I'll be back the week of the 29th with some new posts!

Ocean Isle Beach Packing List

Hey y'all! This week's weather has really made it hard to get excited about our beach trip... I guess because it doesn't feel like summer when it's chilly outside. But, the weather is improving and no matter what, I'm going to enjoy a much needed vacation! We will be headed to Ocean Isle Beach for a week of relaxation. We don't have any big plans for our trip besides getting outside, enjoying the beach, and picking up takeout from all of our favorite beach restaurants. I am really looking forward to seeing the ocean. It's my happy place and I've missed the beach so much! 

Today, I'm going to be sharing my Ocean Isle Beach packing list, which will obviously not be every single thing that I'm actually packing. This list is some of my new purchases and must haves for this beach trip, you know the fun stuff. Honestly, packing is my very least favorite part of traveling. I'm an over-packer and I am always worried about forgetting something. One thing that has definitely been easier this time around is that my kids can pack their own suitcases! Y'all. This is a game changer. Part of my packing stress has always been packing for all four of us (yes, I still pack for my husband because he's terrible at it, lol). But, now my ten year old and eight year old can pack their own stuff! I gave them each a general list of what they needed to pack and they totally did it themselves in about 30 minutes. I feel like I just leveled up in motherhood! Haha!

Okay, now on my packing list...

V I S O R  H A T

My kids totally made fun of me when I tried this on, lol. But, I don't care. It's a genius solution! I always get frustrated at the beach or pool because I want to wear my hair up in a bun but then I can't wear my straw hat. Well, hello bun friendly hat situation. I'm proudly going to be rocking this at the beach! I'm so excited about it!

O N E  P I E C E  S W I M S U I T S

Are you looking for a great, affordable, mom friendly swimsuit?! Well, I've absolutely found it. I originally purchased the black and loved it so much that I ordered the leopard print one while I was at the pool. The booty is a flattering full coverage, which I feel like is nearly impossible to find in a swimsuit right now. This is such a great swimsuit! I ordered my normal swimsuit size and it's the perfect fit. I'll be living in these suits!

B O O K

This vacation is going to be a much needed week of relaxation, which means I need less screen time. I have lots of non-fiction books at home that I haven't read yet but honestly, I just didn't want to read anything like that at the beach. I wanted something fiction so I picked up this book. I know I'm late to the party but when I searched for great fiction books, this one was one of the first options that came up. I'm really excited to read it! It will be the first first fiction book I've read in... years.

B R U M A T E

So, while I'm on the beach wearing my visor hat, wearing my one piece swimsuit, reading a book, I need a cold drink, right?! This Brumate is another ingenious invention that I just had to have for my sparkling waters of all kinds. No one wants a hot drink on the beach!

F L I P  F L O P S

These are $50 flip flops and I know that seems really ridiculous to spend that much on flip flops. I get it but I've had this same pair for over three years and they are still going strong. I can't say the same thing for my five dollar pair. Those are long gone. I'm certain I can get a couple more seasons out of this pair of fancy flip flops!

S U N G L A S S E S

I shared, maybe last week, about investing in quality items. Above is a great example of my flip flops that have lasted forever. These sunglasses are also an investment but I've owned them over a year (that's a real record for me) and they are the only pair I wear. I love the classic style! I have actually taken great care of them and even keep them in a case. I'm pretty proud that I haven't lost or broken them in the past year!

M A K E U P 
I don't really wear much makeup at the beach, if any at all. But, these are the items that I plan to take with me. A tinted sunscreen powder (I also brush this onto my girls' faces), my go-to mascara, a new budget friendly concealer, and my all-time favorite lip gloss is all I need!

S T R A W  T O T E
I bought this straw tote last summer and it's still one of my favorite bags to carry, especially on vacation. It holds so much without being a bulky bag. I love tying a bandana or scarf onto it to add a little pop of color. A great summer bag!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you have a great day!

Instagram Roundup .210

Happy Wednesday! This has been such a gloomy week weather wise here! We went from sunshine and summer temperatures to non-stop rain and 60 degree weather. A big change! I'm really hoping the sun comes out soon and warm weather returns, especially since we are heading to the beach on Friday for some much needed relaxation. Even though I haven't physically been to work since March, I have been so mentally and emotionally exhausted being at home every single day. I'm sure I'm not alone in this! Being with my children all day, every day has, of course, been a blessing but my brain just never turns off. I'll be closing the laptop and opening up a book, just for fun, next week. I can't wait to sit in my chair at the edge of the water for a few days!

Today, I'm sharing an Instagram Roundup, including outfits from last week (during warmer, sunnier times). Also, in case you missed it, on Monday, I shared a recap of our visit to Jellystone Park in Golden Valley and yesterday, I shared an adorable little white dress from BohoBlu (plus there's a discount code and a chance to win a $100 gift card)! Be sure to check out those posts and as always, thank you so much for being here!

K I M O N O c/o Stella Laine Boutique

Thanks so much for visiting! I hope you have a great day!

Little White Dress from BohoBlu

Hey y'all! I hope your week is off to a great start! In case you missed it, yesterday I posted a giveaway with BohoBlu over on my Instagram feed! One lucky winner will receive a $100 gift card to shop at BohoBlu! All of the details for the giveaway can be found on my Instagram. Also, I have a code for everyone to use to shop. Use my code EMILY15 at checkout to receive 15% off of your purchase!

Ok, now let's talk about this dress! In today's post, I am styling the gorgeous Lottie Dress from BohoBlu! I have personally been on the hunt for a little white dress to add to my closet and I was so excited to find this one. I love the fabrics: eyelet lace and swiss dot plus the buttons down the front are just such a great detail. All of the buttons are fully functional, as well.

For this look, I decided to keep it casual and comfortable. I paired the Lottie Dress with metallic slides and a little wicker bag. Wouldn't this look be darling for an afternoon at a vineyard? Doesn't that just sound amazing?! This dress could also be totally dressed up by adding a great pair of heels and statement earrings! Or, you could take it even more casual with a cute pair of white sneakers and a denim jacket. It's such a versatile piece for your wardrobe!

S H O P  T H E  P O S T:

D R E S S c/o BohoBlu | use my code EMILY15 for 15% off your order!

B A G

S A N D A L S 

S U N G L A S S E S

N E C K L A C E

R I N G

Thank you so much for stopping by! Be sure to go over to my Instagram to enter the giveaway with BohoBlu for a chance to win a $100 gift card to shop. The winner will be announced on June 22!

Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort Golden Valley

Happy Monday! Today, I have an exciting post to share with y'all! Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort Golden Valley recently hosted our family for a three day visit and today's post is all about our experience there. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort Golden Valley is located at the base of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. If you are looking for a great, family-friendly getaway, you will definitely want to add this destination to your list! It's a must-see! I'm going to recap our visit and answer the questions that you submitted over on Instagram. Speaking of Instagram, you can see even more of our fun in my highlight titled "JELLYSTONE" where I saved all of our stories from our trip! Also, be sure to check out Jellystone Golden Valley Instagram to see more! Not local to North Carolina? Be sure to see the full list of resorts here for a similar experience!

First, let's chat about where we stayed. I've haven't been real camping in a really long time and it's honestly not my favorite so "camping" in a cabin was exactly my style! We stayed in a Laurel Cove Cottage and it was perfect for our family. There's two separate bedrooms; one with a queen sized bed and one with a twin-over-full bunk bed. The beds were very comfortable! You have the option of bringing your own sheets and towels or you can rent linens for an additional fee. Our sheets and towels were provided for us and we had a great experience! I really loved the convenience of not having to pack our own bedding to bring along with us.

The Laurel Cove Cottage also has a full kitchen, table with two chairs, a sofa, and three TV's! It's important to note that they have excellent WiFi, that is available across all of the camp-resort area. It's also important to note that the Laurel Cove Cottages do not have a bathroom inside of them, however; you do have access to have private bathroom, it's just detached from the actual cabin. Our bathroom was less than a two-minute walk away. I was really impressed by how nice it was and I totally felt like I was "glamping" with that kind of bathroom! 

The Laurel Cove Cottage is just one way to stay at the camp-resort, there's lots of other cabin options as well as tent sites and RV sites to choose from on the property! 

Honestly, the pool and water zone area might have been my very favorite part of our whole experience! Splashing and sliding in the water zone was the perfect way to cool off. I totally felt like a kid during our trip! I absolutely loved the water slides; there were two larger slides and overall, I would say that the water zone is such a great place for kids of all ages to play since the water was very shallow. There's also a pool that goes up to 3 feet 9 inches. I was really happy that it wasn't a super deep pool because it gave me more piece of mind with my eight year old and ten year old swimming. I always stay close by when they are in the pool but I liked not having to worry about them going too far into the deep end at this pool. The pool also had a basketball goal, a volleyball net, and little stools inside of the pool to sit on. It was also a really large pool! Due to COVID-19, you had to sign up for pool times so that social distancing could be maintained. You can sign up for pool times in the registration station or the ranger station, right by the pool area. The pool time slots are about 2 hours and they sanitized the pool deck area between groups. I felt very safe being at the pool area during our visit! It was also really nice to enjoy a non-crowded pool experience!

There's so much to do at the camp-resort! You can read about all of the activities that they have available here on their website. We weren't even able to do everything that was there during our trip. But, we did do a lot! There's many things to do that are no additional fee and are included with the price of your stay. Free activities include: the pool/water zone (that I described above), the jumping pad and pillow, mini golf, corn hole, the swimming hole, hiking trails, playground, basketball and tennis courts, outdoor movies, volleyball, hey hey rides, gaga ball, fishing, and scavenger hunt.

They also have other activities that are also available at a small, additional cost: lazer tag (this was my husband's highlight of the trip), gem mining, arts and crafts, and water rentals. 

You definitely won't be bored during your visit to Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park!

Before we arrived at the camp-resort, we stopped in nearby Morganton to get groceries for breakfast, dinner, and snacks. Since our cottage had a full kitchen (that was stocked with pots, pans, glassware, silverware, coffee pot, toaster, etc.) it was easy to prepare our own meals in our cabin! There was also a grill and fire pit right outside of the cabin that we used for grilling each night. We did get lunch (and delicious ice cream + Icees) at the Creekside Café, which is located right by the pool area and ranger station. They offer a variety of foods such as burgers, fries, and pizzas. The Lodge on-site also offers pancake breakfasts and other meals on select dates as well. Also, by the pool area, The Blue Ridge Tavern offers cocktails, beer. and wine!

On Instagram, I asked for any questions that you might have about our experience at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort Golden Valley. Here's the top questions that were asked:

Q: Do you have to rent the golf cart separately?

A: Yes, you have to rent the golf cart for an additional fee. During Non-Peak Season, Sunday-Thursday, Two-Day Minimum: $39/day and Friday & Saturday, Two-Day Minimum: $45/day. During Peak Season, Sunday-Thursday, Two-Day Minimum: $44/day and Friday & Saturday, Two-Day Minimum: $52/day. Jellystone Park graciously gifted us the golf cart rental as a part of our hosted stay but we definitely would have rented it ourselves if it wasn't. It made traveling around the camp-resort easy and so much fun. My girls loved riding in the golf cart!

Q: Would teenagers enjoy it here or is it mostly for younger kids?

A: Teenagers would totally love it! There were so many teenagers there when we went and they all looked like they were having a great time. There's so much to do; all ages will love it!

Q: What's included when you stay? What's an extra cost?

A: There's a lot included! The pool/water zone, the jumping pad and pillow, mini golf, corn hole, the swimming hole, hiking trails, playground, basketball and tennis courts, outdoor movies, volleyball, hey hey rides, gaga ball, fishing, and scavenger hunt. For an additional cost, you can play lazer tag, go gem mining, do arts and crafts, and enjoy the water rentals. Linens, golf carts, and hot tubs are also an additional fee.

Q: What was it like heat/humidity wise?

A: Our visit was at the beginning of June and it was in the mid to upper 80s during the daytime. It was also humid because well, it's North Carolina. NC is very hot and humid during the summer months. However, the heat and humidity wasn't a problem at all during our visit. The pool, water zone, and swimming hole are the perfect ways to cool off! Also, there was a ton of available shade thanks to all of the tall, beautiful trees! Our cabin also had wonderful AC so we stayed cooled! But, I also think this would be such a beautiful place for a fall trip. You can't go wrong!

Thank you so much for stopping by! I absolutely loved sharing our experience here on the blog. This was such an amazing trip and we made so many memories! Let me know if you have any other questions. I'm happy to help! I hope y'all have a wonderful day!