totes

The Perfect Tote – Barrington Gifts

Posted on June 27, 2017June 27, 2017 by KSSBelle

Hello, Everyone! We’ve been having amazing weather here this week so far, and that makes me one happy girl! I can take the heat, just leave the humidity out of it.

So, I love a great leather handbag like any fashion, loving girl; however, I have two little boys, and I need a tote that works for me, literally. I have two baby bags, and loved them, but for me, it’s nice to just carry a normal tote. My three requirements are the following: 1. It has to be able to carry everything, 2. I have to be able to wipe it down, if something gets spilled on it, and 3. It has to be super cute. I save the pretty leather ones for date nights, girls nights, or for outfit posts right now. I discovered Barrington Gifts totes a few years ago, and fell in love with the St. Anne Tote, mostly because you can design & monogram them. Who doesn’t love that? I get so many compliments on these totes, and I wear them season after season! It’s a win, win! These would also make a great gift for a new Mom as well. It comes in a baby bag design, but looks like a pretty, little tote.

Below are the designs that I’m trying to decide between. Which one do you think I should get?

Image via

The St. Anne Tote (Design #1)

I love the blue and white pattern with a pop of green in the monogram! This one is a front runner right now. Plus, this year you can change the leather trim color as well, and I really like the lighter leather trim for something different.

The St. Anne Tote (Design #2)

This is just a happy, Summer design. Apparently, since having boys, I have snuck more gingham in throughout our house/life, according to my husband. I guess I’ve never really noticed that’s it’s everywhere, until he called it out. I do love gingham, it’s classic, and I really like the royal blue. I am a Mom of boys, and they do wear a lot of gingham. I’m thinking I should match them too, now. Ha!

The St. Anne Tote (Design #3)

I really love this pattern, and already own this tote with a hot pink/green stripe. The mint green/white stripe with this pattern is really pretty too. This pattern can be worn year round, so that’s an added bonus in my book.

The St. Anne Tote – Axis

I have this print, and LOVE it. You will not regret this pattern for Fall!

St. Anne Tote Leopard

Oh my goodness, I’m in love. Leopard is a neutral. And, this one just may be added to my closet for Fall!

I could play around with the designs of these totes all day long, but I do have two little ones waking up as we speak. I’m off to go get my second cup of coffee, and think about which one to get! Help wanted…I’d love your opinion, too!

Enjoy your day!
~KSSBelle

My “Momiform” for Summer

Posted on June 15, 2016July 15, 2016 by KSSBelle

Happy Wednesday, Friends!

I hope you’re all doing well, and are trying to stay cool during this heat wave. It’s come WAY to early for my liking, but I guess Mother Nature didn’t ask me. So, cheers to surviving it in style, right?!

Below are a few of my “momiform” favorites/staples for this time of year. I may have traded my high heels (except for date nights) in for flat sandals or sneakers, and every day showers for dry shampoo, but that doesn’t mean we can’t look good while raising our little ones. Everything here is machine washable for anything that may spill on you, etc.
Who’s with me?

Happy Shopping!

Linen Blouse

This top is really pretty, and it’s lightweight. I love a good blouse year round, but especially in the Summer. I like the 3/4 sleeve length too. It would be perfect with a pair of bright shorts and flats. It would also look great with a pair of crisp, white jeans.

Loft IKat Riviera Shorts

I love this ikat print. It’s classic and goes with pretty much any Summer blouse in my closet. I really like the Riviera shorts because of the 4″ inch length. Plus, I’m 5/10 and refuse to wear anything shorter with kids. This style comes in so many fun prints and patterns every year. I would be embarrassed to tell you the number of pairs I already own. They’re that good.

Modern Kick Crop Jeans

These jeans are so chic. I love the crop look for Summer. They pair really well with flats or even a kitten heel. These are a “must have” in my closet.

Gingham Split Neck Shell

This top is much cuter in person. I tried it on last weekend, and took it home with me. It is slightly longer in the back which is nice. No crop tops with kids. This is perfect with shorts, white jeans, and the list goes on.

Bow Flats

These have adorable and affordable written all over them. I always invest in at least 2 new pairs of flat sandals from Target every Summer. They look cute, but if they get worn out by the end of the season, I don’t feel badly about tossing them out. These would be easy to run after a toddler on the playground in, if needed. They also just so happen to look like a Kate Spade pair. Well done, Target, well done.

Jack Rogers Jelly Sandals

These are so fun, affordable and flat. They come in a million different colors, and you can’t ruin them in the backyard, on the playground or running errands.

St. Anne Tote

The St. Anne tote is perfect year round. I have two now. One is a baby bag, and one standard St. Anne tote. They’re perfect with kids, as I recently had a Chick fil a milkshake split on mine by accident, and it was completely wiped off in minutes, and good as new again. They are completely chic, hold everything you need, clean off easily, and you can monogram it. What gets better than that? My designer handbags/totes are in the closet unless it’s a date night/girls night out for now.

Loft Studs

I love a great pair of statement earrings; however when you’re toting the kiddos around with a random tantrum of tugging, you want to have a great pair of classic studs in your ears, trust me. Again, the statement earrings are still around, but are reserved for date nights or outings if Daddy is around to help. My go-to is a perfect pair of pearl earrings, but it’s nice to switch it up with a pretty gemstone pair every now and then.

So, these are some of my staples in my closet for surviving the heat, raising kiddos and still looking chic. What is your “momiform?”

Have a great day, friends!
~KSSBelle

Be Squared – Gingham

Posted on June 2, 2015June 2, 2015 by KSSBelle

Gingham is quite possibly the most popular pattern in fashion, well, that and stripes. It’s timeless which is probably one of the reasons why I love it so much. You can wear it year round, you can decorate your home with this pattern, and you can even eat off of adorable gingham plates, monogrammed if you so desire. I simply love gingham. I love the fact that it’s also so simple, too. It’s an incredibly wearable pattern for women and men of all ages. You can literally wear it from the time you’re a baby to the time your 92. You’ll find this pattern in so many rich colors, which is what makes it fun. Besides the gingham clothing my family and I wear, we recovered some bamboo chairs in a cranberry, yellow, green and gold gingham pattern 4 years ago. These chairs are just happy, preppy chairs in our living room. To this day, I never tire of them. So, whether or not you want to wear gingham, decorate with it or even tote the pattern around town, know it will never go out of style.

All above images via

Here are just a few things in gingham that I’m loving right now. Do you love this pattern? What are your favorite gingham pieces these days?

Giselle Gingham Top

This top is amazing. It’s a little bit dressier than a classic button up, which is a nice change. I love the 3/4 sleeve length. This top would look great with white jeans in the summer or a cute pair of shorts, too.

The St. Anne Tote

Barrington Gift totes are my favorite. This gingham print is new for Summer. I have the St. Anne Axis diaper bag tote, and it holds everything we need very well. This new navy, gingham tote just might have to be added to my collection.

Melamine Monogram Salad Plates

Have you seen the “Preppy Paper Girl” shop on Etsy? Everything in her shop is incredibly chic. If you need a gift for someone preppy, this is the only place you need to shop. These salad plates come in so many beautiful colors, and would look great for everyday or if you’re hosting a party. These plates would make a great hostess gift too.

Staffordshire Folded Notecards

Another great pick from the Preppy Paper Girl shop. Call me old fashioned, but I am a big fan of snail mail. I was raised to write handwritten thank you notes. I will be instilling this same tradition in my children, too. These gingham notecards make writing your thank you notes so much more fun in my opinion.

Handbag Picks for Spring/Summer 2015

Posted on April 10, 2015April 10, 2015 by KSSBelle

I think handbags are hands down my favorite accessory. What girl doesn’t love a great handbag to tote around town? I am extremely picky about my handbags. My handbags have to have structure, and the bigger the better for me. I have a baby, so all of our stuff combined has to fit and be functional.

I’ve rounded up a few favorites I am loving for Spring/Summer 2015. One of my picks is a baby bag (for any Moms or future Moms), and then some are just great handbags, I wouldn’t mind adding to my closet.

What kind of handbags do you like? Do you tend to be brand loyal? Or, are you all over the place, like me?

MICHAEL Michael Kors Jet Set Travel Top Zip Tote

The shape of this tote is classic, and the navy is simply gorgeous.

Kate Spade New York Claremont Drive Marcella

I really love the shape of this handbag. The cashew color is nice, because it will go with everything you wear. It also comes in black.

Kate Spade New York Classic Nylon Brynne Baby Bag

Do you notice a theme going on here? Structure. I have a baby bag from Kate Spade, and don’t know what I would do without it. The best part is, you don’t even know it’s a baby bag, it looks so much like a cute tote. Kate knows what she’s doing.

Sondra Roberts Perforated Leather Tote

The detail on this tote is beautiful. I love the natural color, and it could be worn year round. This would hold all of our stuff too. Perfect!

Gramono Scalloped Edge Monogrammed Leather Clutch Purse

I love the mint version of this purse. It would be so cute for a date night out or brunch.

Have a great weekend!