Something my family and I love to do is bike together on the weekends. Driving and parking can be a real hassle, so we all love to take our bikes out for a spin! It's fun, we get some exercise in and it's better for the environment as well. For serious rides I take my road bike but for fun around town, I just recently purchased a new city bike from Just Ride L.A. called the Beaumont.
The company who designed the bike is called Critical Cycles. A great thing about them is that they are located and operate out of Los Angeles (just like me!). They construct each bike by hand, complete with superior components and sell directly to consumers. I love the retro styling and vintage look to the bike. It's a typical Dutch style of bike and I had admired several on my trip to Amsterdam many years back. This style comes in other colors, which you can find here. A great thing about this bike is that it comes with a lifetime warranty on the frame and fork, and has two different sizes for height if you are under 5'4 or over.
Running errands around town calls for a sturdy bag that won't fall off your bike. Enter the Market Bag by Linus. It can attach to your bike with the clasps or you can carry it on your shoulder and keep it rolled up when not in use. The sides expand to ensure all of your goods intact. It also comes with a lock so you can leave it with your bike and know it will remain safe while you continue shopping! My husband and I love how hands free this bag is especially when keeping an eye on our son. This also comes in other colors, check out the website here for more fun products.
Even running errands calls for some Janna Conner jewels in your outfit. The necklace and bracelet both have clasps so they'll keep up with you all day. The ear threaders are comfy and lightweight and will add the right amount of flair to your outfit.
My Shada Necklace has a rectangular rose quartz pendant and is accented by a coral bead. This pairs nicely with a blouse or tee shirt. While it may look simple, the chain is a diamond cut ball chain, which makes it better than your ordinary basic.
My Selda Bracelet is a pink mother of pearl that has been hand carved in the shape of a rose. The rest of the bracelet is accented with baby moonstones. The pink and glossy colors look great with any skin tone.
My Farih Threaders are so lightweight they feel like air! A great addition to your outfit if you're a gal looking for simplicity. A great feature on these threaders it that you don't have to worry about them falling off due to stubborn ear backs, as they just thread right through your ear and stay there.
If you live in the Los Angeles area like I do, you know you should always be stepping out in a great outfit anywhere you go (you never know who you'll run into!). I put together a great look that is perfect for running errands and keeping up with kids without sacrificing style.
Everyone needs a classic cotton black t-shirt in their wardrobe. Get yours from Net-A-Porter, a website I love to use for one stop shopping. They carry almost every designer brand you could imagine! This scoop tee by Splendid will not only keep you comfortable, but will go great with the Dolce & Gabbana scarf. The scarf will add some color into your look and the gold in the tulips will look great with my jewelry! If you are not into scarfs, choose to wear this outfit with my Shada necklace instead! Find more great items from Net-A-Porter here.
A great denim brand I have found is 3x1. In the pair I chose, the fringe adds a relaxed vibe to this denim, and your weekend style shouldn't be anything but just that! This is also a huge trend in denim this year, so be on the lookout for your next pair for summer. You can wear these jeans in many different looks, varying from boho chic to punk. You can purchase them from Shopbop here.
A weekend of running errands means having shoes that are supportive and can keep up with you. Sneakers are the best choice especially if you will be biking or doing a lot of walking. Thus, the Adidas sneaker is the perfect shoe for the job. The best feature about these shoes is that they are perforated which helps to keep your feet cool and get some air. I love the additional design element that the perforations form an interesting geometric pattern as well! A lot more interesting than a basic white sneaker. Find similar shoes at Asos.
Dries loves the balloon man who makes intricate balloon animals like this pig.
Something that always brings me joy is the smell of fresh produce in my home. My family and I love to hit up farmers markets for locally grown veggies and fruits. A go-to favorite of ours is the South Pasadena Farmer's Market. There are both great prepared food vendors and fruit vendors. We often buy fresh bread there, one of our favorites is a Cheese Jalapeno bread, yum! I'm also an ice cream lover so I always have to visit local Pasadena creamery Carmela. They have so many delicious flavors, Strawberry Buttermilk and Brown Sugar Vanilla are my two favorites. They also teach ice cream making classes, which would make a great gift for the ice cream lover in your life! I even have a friend that loves their ice cream so much that she had them at her wedding instead of a traditional wedding cake. What a fun and unique idea!
Since summer is here, I love adding fresh fruit into everything. Apples, strawberries and peaches are some of my favorites to add some great color and flavor to my meal. Lately I've been eating sliced peaches with Greek Yogurt, toasted walnuts and a honey drizzle for breakfast every morning. It's great for hot summer mornings since it's light but satisfies my sweet tooth without doing too much damage. I like to use Fage 2% Plain Greek Yogurt because it's high in protein and the fat will help keep you satiated. Walnuts not only taste great but are a rich source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and an excellent source of those hard to find omega-3 fatty acids. Leave the skin on your peaches and you get a little fiber in there too. Overall a great way to start your day!