Category: Fashion

What Does OOTD Mean?

Back in 2016, when the term began to peak in popularity, we provided a complete breakdown of what OOTD meant and how it was used. He Spoke Style founder Brian Sacawa defined OOTD as, “a common abbreviation used in hashtag form, primarily on Instagram. It is a variant of WIWT (What I Wore Today) and is used in a fashion context for someone to indicate to others what they are wearing or have worn.”

The term and hashtag were originally applied to selfies and casual photos taken by friends. Sometimes the wearer of said outfit struck an exaggerated pose and sometimes they acted naturally. The shots themselves either emulated fashion editorial or ironically satirized fashion marketing. Either way, the outfit was always the center of attention.

Since then, the term has evolved to encompass any outfit, regardless of who is wearing it. OOTD no longer has to mean a particular outfit that you are wearing on that day. It can be any outfit that you are inspired by right now. Anyone can be wearing it and it can be from any point in time. The wearer and day no longer matter, only the outfit.

Who Started OOTD?

When we start talking about the origins of the term and hashtag we begin wading into some murky waters. As with most conventionally-used hashtags and internet jargon, OOTD became so ubiquitous so fast that its location of first use and the identity of who first used it cannot be pinpointed exactly. The term became commonplace in 2010 with the second wave of social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and Youtube. Style-focused accounts exploded with this generation of social media platforms and OOTD proliferated among them and their users.

OOTD posts grew organically at first, as friends learned the term from other friends. Yet, even in those earlier days of social media, trends snowballed quickly and before long, it became a trending hashtag on all major social platforms. What started out as a concise phrase to share your style with friends became a contest for influence among style-focused social media users. Still, there remained plenty of users genuinely posting their OOTD in its original spirit of unfettered inspiration.

Unlike the OOTD hashtag trend, the origins of the official OOTD holiday are clear. Reality TV star Stassi Schroeder took the necessary steps to establish National #OOTD Day as an officially recognized holiday in 2018. This wasn’t just a frivolous publicity stunt as Schroeder had genuinely positive intentions. Now, every June 30th is dedicated to expressing self confidence by loving the way you look. So next June 30th, go ahead and practice some self love with a selfie!

There is some irony to Schroeder’s rebranding of OOTD but what better way to address the root causes of social media’s negative self perception problems than by putting a positive spin on stylized selfies. Getting caught up in OOTD posts can cause an entire range of negative psychological issues when viewed as a standard to achieve. Framing the concept as a medium for expressing confidence and joy by showing off is the kind of rebranding we think social media needs.

How The OOTD Hashtag Has Evolved

Not long after the second wave of social media took off in the 2010s, influencer culture evolved as a means for popular users to capitalize on their large audiences. OOTD posts became a preferred method for influencers to display products they were promoting, becoming a marketing tool for brands. At the same time, social media users started referring to OOTD hashtag searches for style inspiration. As “likes” became the currency of social media, OOTD posts became just another tool to earn.

Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Tumblr were the social platforms on which OOTD first gained traction as the major visual social networks at the time. Facebook, Pinterest, and Tumblr may have had different styles, but they all focused on the same basic action – sharing pictures. And YouTube was by far the easiest platform for sharing videos. So it makes complete sense that the most successful fashion hashtag ever took off on the key visual networks of the time.

As a bit of an aside, it’s worth mentioning that the rise of OOTD helped stoke the rise of (and demand for) Fast Fashion. Fast Fashion retailers benefited from the increased demand for new clothes. As a steady supply of fashionable new clothes became more financially accessible, OOTD posts increased. Fast Fashion companies complicated the relationship as they began engaging in marketing campaigns centered around OOTD, further promoting the practice among their customers.

In a 2018 article published by The Guardian, stylist and activist Caryn Franklin warned of the negative effect the OOTD trend was having on all levels of fashion. The article cited a survey done in the UK that found approximately 10% of UK residents at the time had purchased new clothing only to post an OOTD photo before promptly returning the clothes. The fashion industry outside of Fast Fashion took a substantial hit from this practice at the time. Franklin also warned that buying clothes simply to show off on social media was bad for fashion’s soul, degrading the relationship we have with our clothes and denying us the experience of bonding with them.

By the late 2010s, fashion brands and editorials started using the term in the third person. Meaning that they would post pictures, either recent or from any point in the past, of models and celebrities in great outfits. A term originally indicating one’s own outfit evolved into a broader designation of any outfit that looked good and provided style inspiration.

It’s rare that a social media hashtag becomes a convenient shorthand, but that’s exactly what happened here. Hashtag OOTD became so ubiquitous by the late 2010s that the acronym, “O O T D” instead of “outfit of the day,” was used in everyday conversation among fashion enthusiasts.

OOTD on Instagram

OOTD, as both a concept and a hashtag, existed for some time on various social media  platforms before Instagram really took off in 2012. After 2012, Instagram was the primary home for OOTD. Just as with Facebook and Twitter before it, Instagram originally used hashtags as a way for users to categorize their content. The most visual social media platform ever constructed (at the time) turned out to be the ideal habitat for an outfit sharing hashtag to flourish.

Fashion social media found its home on Instagram and everyone from casual users to multi-million follower influencers were sharing their OOTDs. The Kardashians were doing it, He Spoke Style was doing it, and chances are you were doing it too. Brands and editorials got into the game as well, even heritage publications like GQ and Esquire started posting them. OOTD became the definitive fashion hashtag of the 2010’s.

At the time of writing this article, there were 404 million #OOTD posts on Instagram. A scroll through the top trending posts reveals a wide range of outfit photos. There are a lot of selfies, posed street photography, candid street photography, phone-blocking-the-face mirror shots, editorial style poses, runway style poses, pictures of children taken by their parents, and even pictures of dogs in clothes.

“Fit” has become the new shorthand for Outfit in recent years among fashion enthusiasts and editorials on social media. The term OOTD has been replaced with Big Fit, Fit Check or just Fit. The idea is the same, though, and it’s really just a further abbreviation of the term. It is a common occurrence in the English language where the colloquial usage of a phrase will get shorter over time if it is used frequently enough. We all just get tired of saying the same thing over and over. The evolution of Fit is a testament to the staying power of the OOTD concept.

OOTD on TikTok

TikTok is the new frontier of fashion social media. Users have taken to the platform to share, discuss, and find fashion for years but brands and editorial have yet to really figure it out. Quick snippets of video and micro-stories are a more challenging medium for fashion than photos. Yet everyday users, and increasingly influencers, are having no trouble at all getting traction by simply sharing their outfits.

TikTokers are using jump cuts to show step by step progressions of their outfits, sometimes with the “throwing it on” technique. Others are doing runway style walks and poses. They can opt to show their fit dubbed with music or they can explain their choices to their viewers. The benefit of audio has opened up a new world of discussing style on social media. While Instagram has had audio/video for a long time, its interface is not as seamless as TikTok.

The newest evolution of OOTD on TikTok is GRWM, or Get Ready with Me. The idea is the same but, being a video format, it is focused on putting together an outfit and often explaining the reasoning behind it. This is very much a user-driven hashtag, growing organically as OOTD did a decade ago.

Conclusion

OOTD was one of the earliest hashtags used to share fashion ideas and inspiration on social media. It has stuck around and evolved over the past decade, enduring in various forms of Fit and other acronyms like GRWM. Regardless of how you phrase it, the spirit of sharing fashion has remained the same – users posting photos to inspire and seek approval from their communities.

Corporate interests tried to co-opt the term and many users got carried away at the peak of the trend. OOTD may have contributed in some part to the rise of Fast Fashion and had detrimental effects on the fashion industry. However, the net effect was absolutely positive. It is easy to label the trend as just another “look at me” moment on social media but for genuine users it was never about them, it was about the fit and the love of community.

The literal meaning of the words Outfit of the Day have been replaced with the spirit of inspiration adopted by the term OOTD. It has broadened the usage of the acronym to transcend identity and time. Any outfit worn by anyone ever can be an OOTD. The idea behind sharing outfits is, and always has been, inspiration to help others find their own personal style. OOTD, in all its forms and hashtags, represents the fundamental exchange of style on social media.

Happy Monday guys!! I’ve been wanting to get back into the swing of posting my daily looks here so I decided to start posting a weekly recap roundup of my outfits from the week before. If you want links a little faster, I always try to add to my LTK so you can shop directly there, but I’ll also be compiling them here along with sizing info, what I love about it, and any other info to try to answer questions you guys might have. Last week was a fun mix of loungewear and getting dressed up so it’s a true mix of some of my favorite pieces recently, from mini skirts to sweats. 💕

GREEN SWEATER – WEARING SIZE XL

This is an amazing dupe for the Free People sweaters – I have it in a few colors and it’s become one of my favorites for lounging around the house, packing on beach trips for an extra layer for chilly nights, or just layering throughout the spring. I sized up a ton because I love it super oversized but I’ve gotten some DMs saying it was too baggy for some of you guys when you sized up that much – so much size up just one size if you don’t want it too loose.

GREY JOGGERS – WEARING SIZE L

I got these sweats in a couple colors – you can see the black below in a size M so they aren’t quite as baggy as these grey ones. I actually love the silhouette of these – they are super high rise so I love the way they it on the hips. And of course you can’t beat the comfort level of boyfriend sweats. 🙂

SMILEY SLIPPERS – WEARING SIZE 8.5

I pretty much live in slippers around the house so my slipper collection might be slightly above average 🙃 but they are one of the simple pleasures of life I don’t think I’ll ever give up haha. These come in 8 colors and are under $20. If you’re between sizes, I would always suggest sizing up – especially for all things fluffy, faux fur, etc.

CROPPED TANK (WEARING SIZE M)

This tank has a built-in bralette so it makes it super easy to wear out and about – I’ve worn to the gym, just running errands, with jeans – it’s the ultimate tank!

BLACK JOGGERS (WEARING SIZE M)

These are the same sweats as above but one size smaller. Super easy combo for running errands when you don’t feel like getting fully ready for the day.

WHITE PULLOVER (OLD – SIMILAR HERE)

SANDALS

If you don’t own these yet, I don’t know what to tell you – they are like walking on air! Everyone I know who owns a pair says they are the most comfortable sandals they own. Word of warning though, they are kind of like an addictive snack because once you have on pair, you keep decided you need more colors. 😂

TOMMY HILFIGER HAT

Love the color of this hat! Such a cool 90s vibe too.

CHAIN NECKLACE (UNDER $15) & INITIAL NECKLACE (UNDER $15)

I’ve worn this combo of necklaces more than maybe any other necklace. They are both under $15 and I have worn them to bed, in the shower, to the beach, in the pool – never had any tarnishing or issues with them!

GREEN BLOUSE (SIZE SMALL)

Obsessed with the color of this satin top! It’s the perfect way to bring some spring colors to your wardrobe – the off the shoulder and sleeve detail is so good!

BLACK MINI SKIRT (WEARING SIZE SMALL)

Not mad these mini skirts are coming back! So many ways to wear them and pair them – sandals, boots, sneakers, tees, sweaters, tanks. The options are endless!

GLITTER PURSE (UNDER $15)

After eyeing the Cult Gaia version of this bag for a few months, I found this dupe and decided to give it a try since it was only $15 – and I was even more pleasantly surprised when I got it in hand! Great lookalike and love it transition a look for night.

PINK SANDALS

Obsessed with everything about these sandals. As you can tell… because I wore them 3 days in a row haha. They also come in a pretty kelly green color. Surprisingly comfortable too! Which is the only way I could wear them 3 days in a row, let’s be real lol.

CUT-OUT TOP

Loving all the creative cut-outs in tops right now – it gives even the simplest, neutral outfits a step up.

CARGO KHAKI PANTS (WEARING SIZE 26)

I feel like cargo pants are breathing new life into my spring wardrobe. I love how they look with strappy sandals – it’s such a pretty balance between masculine and feminine. And they pair so perfectly with pretty fitted tops for spring, cropped tanks, even basic tees – so many options for an effortlessly cool combo no matter what your style is.

PINK SANDALS

CORSET TOP (UNDER $30 – SIZE 2-4)

This is the ultimate top for spring. It looks super high-end up so I couldn’t believe it was under $30! Comes in multiple colors and the corset silhouette is so flattering. Also love this sleeveless version (last seen here).

BLACK CHINOS (SIZE 28 x 32)

These are actually mens pants – I just sized down to a 28 (usually a size 25-26 in women’s). I’ve been loving the oversized, baggy cargo-pants fit and these seemed like the perfect way to get the same look for less.

BALLOON CARGO JEANS (50% OFF! WEARING SIZE 2)

These jeans (last seen here) were sold out for a minute but I just checked again this weekend when I got some questions on them, and they are restocked and on sale for 50% off! Sizes are going quick but I found it on sale here too in more sizes.

PINK BLAZER (WEARING SIZE L – LAST SEEN HERE)

This is another menswear steal – I was on the hunt for a pink oversized blazer and found this suit set for under $60 and I had to try it. I also got it in green and have worn it multiple times since I got it. (Loved it in this combo for when summer hits.)

PEARL HOOPS (UNDER $10)

PINK DROP EARRINGS

PINK SANDALS

PINK CROPPED SWEATSHIRT (UNDER $30 – WEARING SIZE M)

Love this cropped sweatshirt! Comes in multiple colors. This brand is quickly becoming one of my go-tos for comfy pullovers and cozy knits. They make some of the cropped zip-ups I’ve shared recently too – tons of cute silhouettes and great price points.

NEON YELLOW SHORTS: (UNDER $25 – WEARING SIZE S)

These are probably the best dupe I’ve found for my FP Way Home shorts! I basically lived in the FP version last summer – these are a little bit better price point and love all the colors. How good is this neon!? Super high waisted and really comfortable.

SNEAKERS

I’ve been wearing Ultraboosts for years now – they are hands down the most comfortable sneaker for the gym or workouts. Obsessed with all the pretty spring colors right now too! Love this orange and pink combo.

NIKE SNEAKERS

Also got these pretty Nikes last week –  love the pretty color palette! I feel like new sneakers are the best way to guarantee I keep going to the gym and working out 😂 anyone else?

Linked some of my favorites from last week here. Let me know if you guys have any questions about any of these pieces:

XX, Christine

An NFT In Collaboration With Illustrator Maddie Dai

To further enhance the experience of The Glenrothes 36 Year Old Single Cask Scotch whisky, the bottle comes with an exclusive NFT illustration by Maddie Dai. Maddie Dai’s black and white etch – which pays homage to the iconic New Yorker style – transforms through unexpected moments where Scotland and New York come to life. A once-static image will surprise whisky lovers with subtle movements that reveal special elements found in Maddie’s art. Furthermore, Maddie’s monochrome sketch will be enhanced through strokes of color highlighting both the whisky and the two worlds that inspired its creation.

“The Glenrothes is a hidden gem among single malt Scotch whiskies, one with a storied background, prized by those who care to look beyond the norm and understand the rewards that can follow,” said Gregory Cozzolino, Marketing Director of Breakthrough Brands at Edrington. “This release embodies the ethos of what it means to explore beyond what is expected and cherish a deeper perspective, by starting with a complex, beautifully balanced whisky, then inviting exploration of a bigger world that bridges The Glenrothes and New York City through the vessel of an NFT that our innovative founders undoubtedly would have embraced.”

The Glenrothes NFT will live on the forward-thinking Solana, one of the most sustainable blockchains in the market. The NFT experience not only compliments the value of the limited 36-year-old bottle of whisky, but offers a unique opportunity for purchasers to delve deeper into the story of The Glenrothes distillery. To further be immersed in The Glenrothes world, owners of the NFT will also have the opportunity to attend rare and exclusive real-life experiences in New York City and across the globe, including the potential to tour the distillery – which traditionally has been closed to visitors.

The Glenrothes 36 Tasting Notes

I’m very familiar with The Glenrothes portfolio — in fact, the 18 Year Old expression is a staple on my bar cart.  But, honestly, what can you say about the 36 Year Old? It’s a bit hard to describe a whisky as interesting as this but I’ll certainly try.

Starting with the aroma. As you might expect from The Glenrothes, your senses are greeted first with a fruity character. Ripe peaches are quite present with additional hints of candied peel, sweet ground ginger, fresh almonds, and a hint of rose oil fragrance. That fruity character continues as you taste the whisky — tropical fruits and orange zest is balanced against a subtle vanilla sweetness, light oak, and gentle spice. The finish is richly sweet as the fruit notes persist and remain gently fragrant.

One very interesting thing to note — at least from my palate — is that although The Glenrothes 36 is 41.4% alcohol by volume (ABV), the initial aroma as well as the bite and snap it possesses on the first sip definitely suggests a higher, almost overproof, strength. I had to do a double-take of the bottle make sure we weren’t, in fact, drinking some overproof stuff. Far from taking away from the experience and enjoyment, this sensation invited me to savor the whisky in my mouth longer, as one might with a cask strength expression.

Where To Buy & Price

The Glenrothes 36 Year Old 1978 Single Cask #3631 has an suggested retail price of $3,600 and is available at select fine spirits retailers across the U.S. and online exclusively through ReserveBar.com.

Photo Report From The Release Event

The Glenrothes 36 Year Old Single Cask release event took place at the Inn at Irving Place in the Gramercy Park neighborhood of Manhattan. Guests were treated not only to a tasting of the new release, but also two signature cocktails as well as other expressions from The Glenrothes portfolio. After the release and tasting, guests moved to the garden before being ushered back into the Inn’s common area for live jazz and savory hors d’ouevres.

Photography by Amy Anaiz.

Any internet space that collects many people is bound to be used by spammers sooner or later. Spammers have been around way before Instagram cropped up, and as technology advances, so does spamming.

New and unseen ways of spreading hate and negativity have been occurring on Instagram, typically revolving around race and religious beliefs, among other topics. Cyberbullying has been around for a while, and millions of people suffer daily.

Unfortunately, social media apps like Instagram harbor such hateful trolls, especially when the platform itself does so little to prevent unsolicited messages and spam comments. Don’t worry, though. The situation isn’t as dark and hopeless as it may seem.

We’re here to help you become an Instagram spam expert, loaded with the power to smite all haters who dare trespass on your profile! We’ll teach you how to report spammers and give you insight into the best ways you can protect your Instagram account from spam! Let’s get started!

What Does Spam Mean on Instagram?

Chances are, if you have a public profile on Instagram, you are likely to receive lots of spam. Especially if you have a large following, you might be receiving spam messages from hundreds of people every day.

But spamming isn’t limited simply to receiving unsolicited messages or comments. On occasion, we can be guilty of it too. Sometimes we are so excited about a beautiful experience we’ve had we want to share it with everyone online. We end up posting lots of content in a short amount of time. This can clutter your followers’ feed with posts, and they might not be thrilled by it. Instead, try to post a small chunk of your beautiful memories every day and spread out the posts over a week to avoid getting unfollowed.

Using the same hashtags on posts is also considered spam. It’s not something your followers will notice necessarily, but Instagram might, and it might decide to time you out. Similarly, if you make a new account and instantly follow 100 people without having many followers back, the app might think you are creating a fake account for spamming purposes. Uh-oh!

Of course, we are not the ones spamming most of the time, but the ones suffering from it. You might be dealing with a fake account if you have received tons of likes and comments quickly, especially comments that don’t really say much.

Or you could be dealing with a troll instead – someone who writes hateful comments or uses abusive language. In both situations spamming is defined as “repeating an action too often and too quickly for it to be normal activity.” Let’s break down the many different types of spam that have surfaced over the past few years.

Types of Spam on Instagram

Now that you understand the term spam, we can discuss the different types of spam users you may come across on Instagram. Being able to differentiate between them can help you deal with the nuisance.

The Passive Spam Account

Everyone has come across this type of Instagram spam account at least once in their life. You’ll notice the red flags straight away – the lack of a profile picture is the main giveaway. Next, you might notice the absence of photos or posts on their feed, or if they do have any, they are usually a handful of unpolished images of seductive photos.

Their bio is generic and lacks personality. It usually prompts you to visit a website or subscribe to a service. Sometimes you might be tempted to “click this link to get more followers!” Or they hope you will fall for their fake sales story and steal your credit card information.

The final giveaway of the passive spam account is the username. A nonsensical cocktail of letters and numbers, meaning absolutely nothing. This should be your last warning – to not engage with this account.

The Aggressive Spam Account

These fake accounts are similar to the Passive spam accounts, except they’re worse. They will follow your account and try to get you to follow theirs.

To ensure they have been seen, aggressive spammers will leave comments multiple times to get more attention.

Their comments include phrases like “want more followers? follow our account” and tend to be repetitive or literally copy-pasted repeatedly on your profile. Aggressive spam accounts don’t care how many pots they have commented on because they believe that the more people see their comments, the more clicks they’ll get.

The Reciprocal Spam Account

Nowadays, a rare find but still considered a spammer is the reciprocal spam account. Bots or trolls don’t make this spam account. Instead, a regular person operates behind it. They spend A LOT of their free time scouring Instagram for people willing to exchange a “follow for follow.”

The reciprocal spammer says they will “follow back” or send “likes for likes.” But these spammers can go from 0 to 100 in minutes, leaving tons of unsolicited comments on your Instagram posts, hoping to get some of your followers hooked on the trade. There was a point when everyone was interested in these harmless exchanges.

The Finsta Spam Account

The Finsta (a play on the words “fake” and “insta” ) grew in popularity in recent years. It’s a secondary account teens create to share their personal and private thoughts. This account specifically made for sharing unique content, away from the hungry eyes of parents, is a popular current trend. But how is it considered spam?

Your Finsta account wouldn’t feature your real name or profile picture. Some users are tempted to take advantage of the anonymity and can start spreading rumors or harmful comments on people’s Instagram accounts.

Having multiple accounts in some ways can help you take full advantage of Instagram without the stress of encountering spammers. You can follow your inner circle of friends and family, set it to private, and communicate without boundaries. Alternatively, Finsta can be used for good, and making a secondary account has its advantages.

What’s the Goal of Instagram Spammers

You might be thinking, what is the point in making a fake Instagram account? Why do people do it? There are several reasons why spam accounts are created:

Catfishing – you have probably heard of a recent film called The Tinder Swindler. It serves as an excellent example of how social media apps can turn into a powerful tool in the hands of scammers. Many people embody a fake online persona for financial gain or wish fulfillment. With a lack of proper ID authentication methods, everyone can be anyone.

Fake news – spreading fake news or rumors is another common occurrence, not just on Instagram but also on social media. It’s difficult to check the legitimacy of news sources, and young adults often fall for the news of someone’s fake death. Sometimes fake rumors are used to upset a victim, too intentionally.

Hate – some people are just bitter and jealous and find pleasure in sending rude messages to Instagram users. Sometimes they have a personal agenda. Other times, they just like being internet trolls and feel powerful staying hidden behind their computers and anonymous fake accounts.

Harassment – many Instagram users like to send vulgar and immoral content, fake messages, and bother people. For reasons normal users probably can’t understand, these fake accounts and trolls send racy images, perhaps thinking they can engage you in a conversation. These can be some of the most disturbing Instagram spam accounts.

Scamming – the most common reason for Instagram spam is scamming. The whole idea behind spam is to get you to click on a specific link or attempt to hook you on a phony deal. Eventually, you might provide personal information or credit card details to scammers and lose money.

How to Report Instagram Spam?

So far, we have broken down the different types of Instagram spammers and what they do. The question is, how do you report a scammer?

One of the best things to ensure you won’t be troubled by a specific spam account again is to report them. Multiple reports of the same account eventually flag up, and Instagram deletes the spam accounts. You’re not only ensuring you won’t receive a message from the spam account again, but you’re also helping other Instagram accounts that could be potential targets.

We have already covered how to remove all followers on Instagram and deal with spam comments on Instagram if you’re having trouble. Here is how to report Instagram spam in a few easy steps:

Step 1: Open the Instagram app.

Step 2: Search your notifications for the most recent spam likes, comments, or messages you received.

Step 3: Press on the user profile who sent them to you.

Step 4: Press the three small dots on the profile you wish to report.

Step 5: Simply press “Report.”

Step 6: Choose between the two options: “Report post message or comment” and “Report account”.

Step 7: If you choose “Report account,” you will have the following options (choose according to your personal experience):

– It’s posting content that shouldn’t be on Instagram.

• It’s spam
• I just don’t like it
• Suicide, self-injury, or eating disorders
• Sale of illegal regulated goods
• Nudity or sexual activity
• Hate speech or symbols
• Violence or dangerous organizations
• Bullying or harassment
• Intellectual property violation
• Scam or fraud
• False information

– It’s pretending to be someone else.

• Me
• Someone I know
• A celebrity or public figure
• A business or organization

– They may be under the age of 13.

Now that you know how to report a user, you might be wondering how you can protect your account. The following section discusses different useful ways to protect your account from spam.

How to Protect My Instagram Account from Spam?

Spam Guard

If you’re fed up with receiving spam on Instagram and other social media accounts, there is something you can do. Using third-party apps to protect your account is the safest way to use Instagram. Blocking and reporting won’t guarantee you won’t be contacted again by spammers in the future. And setting your account to private doesn’t work for everyone, especially people working hard to make a living on Instagram.

Using Spam Guard is a dead-simple. You need to go on their website and type in your username in the text bar. You can then choose whether to scan and clean your account, use real-time protection or receive a complete protection report. You could also get the best of all worlds and decide to take advantage of all three options. And here’s the best news – you can sign up for multiple accounts to use this function! Provide your Instagram account with the ultimate shield!

Blocking

You could go double barrel and block the account you have reported. Simply follow the steps below:

Step 1: Visit the annoying Instagram user’s profile.

Step 2: Press on the three dots at the top of their profile.

Step 3: Press “Block.”

Step 4: Choose between “Block [insert annoying Instagram spammer’s username] and any new accounts that they may create” or “Block [insert annoying Instagram spammer’s username].”

Congratulations, you can now go on with your life without being pestered by this spam account. And don’t worry, they won’t get notified that you have blocked them.

Private Accounts

A highly effective way of reducing spam is to switch your public account to private. However, this isn’t feasible for every user. If you are an Instagram influencer or simply use your Instagram for business purposes, you might not be able to do this. However, if you don’t have hundreds of thousands of followers and want to stop spam, it should reduce spam significantly.

Zero Engagement

Lastly, you can decide not to engage with these accounts and choose the passive approach. Sooner or later, the spam will stop, and the fakers will get tired of bugging you and switching to someone else.

You should also think about what hashtags you have been using. Fake Instagram accounts tend to go after people who post and include popular hashtags in their posts. For example, if you are a fan of Apple products and use the hashtag often, they might decide you’re a great person to spam with fake apple products and other related scams.

Zero engagement also means that the spammers may target other people through your posts. Tons of Instagram spam comments also reduce your engagement rates, as it is not seen as genuine traffic on your profile. Your best bet remains to use a third-party app like Spam Guard for protection.

Final Thoughts

We hope our guide on “what does spam on Instagram mean” has helped you understand the concept of spam. It might be helpful for someone struggling with the same thing! Why not share this guide in your Instagram story or with friends?

The Process: How long does it take?

Beckett Simonon shoes are made largely by hand or with the help of a hand-operated precision machine. The outline of the upper is traced and cut with a deft hand and put on the last. Stitching is done with the McKay machine, but nails are done by hand. The uppers  are left on the last for 72 hours and allowed to air-dry instead of quick-drying with an artificial system. Each shoe goes through around 150 steps, and the process is oddly satisfying to watch.

As late as 2019, turnaround was as little as 60 days from order to delivery. However, ongoing COVID-related supply chain issues as well as increased scale of production have pushed the timeline to, at the time of this writing, closer to 120 days.

But, this is the nature of many made-to-order operations. It’s supposed to take a little time. Part of this is designed to make fashion more sustainable and reducing the environmental impact of producing your clothing. Another part is getting you, the consumer, to make purchases for your wardrobe years from now and not just attending next weekend’s wedding. And, a third component is from a business standpoint: making something to order means little-to-no excess inventory, thereby reducing overhead and the cost of storing goods (which would otherwise be passed on to the consumer).

Beckett Simonon Oxfords

Quality & Construction

Having been fortunate to sample and wear a number of the company’s Oxfords over the last three or so years, I’ve gotten a pretty good handle on the materials and build. Let’s cover them here.

While Hurtado and Niño used Argentinian leather in the early days, they’ve moved away from it  because it just didn’t live up to either customer expectations or their own. Today, Beckett Simonon uppers are made using full-grain calfskin from Gruppo Mastrotto, a tannery based in Arzignano, Italy.

The leather is, from my armchair quarterback perspective, excellent for a $200 shoe. It’s supple and pliable, and there are no visible blemishes, pockmarks, or signs of sanding or grinding to remove imperfections.

The midsoles are fully lined in full-grain Vachetta leather. There is some natural cushioning, but there’s no cork midsole conforming to your foot the way, say, a pair of Allen Edmonds would.

The outsoles are leather as well. They’re made from what is, essentially, a blend of bovine leathers compressed together using natural binders of mimosa, quebracho wood, and chestnut.

With that said, these are still $200 shoes and, despite cutting out middlemen and running a lean operation, manufactured to hit that mark. So, compared with a shoe retailing for around $400, the leather will likely not be as thick or as supple.

Construction is, frankly, excellent. The stitching is just as tight and even as some of my far more expensive pairs. I’ve experienced stitched shoes where shoddy workmanship has resulted in excess stitching poking the balls of my feet when walking. This isn’t the case here. And, each pair of Oxfords I’ve had has held up beautifully over the nearly three years I’ve had some of them.

However, I would resist the temptation to polish too frequently. Each of my smooth leather Oxfords have arrived beautifully polished and coated with carnauba wax. But, in an attempt to take one pair’s shine to the next level, I found quite a bit of the polish came off! A clear coat restored most of the luster, though.

Comfort & Fit

“Comfort” is always a difficult topic to discuss, especially around shoes. Some guys like their shoes like a pair of raw denim — something  broken in over a few wearings to conform to the contours of their feet. Others want a soft, squishy kind of ride right out of the box. Me? I’m somewhat in-between. I recognize truly high-quality leather may take a little to break in. But, I’m not willing to sit through a week of blisters on my heels.

Beckett Simonon has built in a nifty detail to counter this common problem in dress shoes. The inside of the heel has a little patch of roughout leather stitched into it. This creates a surface for your socks to catch and stop sliding around as you walk. No slipping, no rubbing, and no blisters.

I found Beckett Simonon Oxfords to be pretty comfortable out of the box. It was quite tight on the vamp for the first couple of hours and left quite a big gap in the facing. But, with little time, the leather began to stretch and mold to my foot. By the third or fourth wearing things had loosened up quite nicely and the upper had begun to mold around my foot. Six wearings in, they began to feel like an old friend.

That is, of course, when I found the right fit for me. I’m a 10B on a Brannock device, which means I need a narrow shoe. While I do appreciate the narrow waist on Beckett Simonon’s Oxfords, they only come in standard “D” widths and are loosely based on Allen Edmonds’ 65 last (what the classic Allen Edmonds Park Avenue sits on.)

A standard 10 in these shoes is okay for me lengthwise, but leaves quite a bit of gapping around the mouth. If you’ve got an average width foot, you should be just fine with your normal size. But, my narrow foot means I need to take a full size down to a 9. Even with that, I’ve got plenty of room to wiggle my toes around — and no gapping at the sides. If you’re a fella with a wider foot, try going half a size up on the lace-ups.

Style & Design

Beckett Simonon’s Oxford selection has seemingly doubled even in the last three years. What was once just captoes and wingtips is up to, at the time of writing, 12 styles to include austerity Oxfords, two kinds of Adelaides, and wholecuts. They’re offered in five different colorways, from a classic black to not-quite-brown-not-quite-tan “oak” finish.

Beckett Simonon seems to be able to roll out so many varieties because they use a similar last for many of the models. Look at the tip of the toe box and you’ll see a slightly raised ‘bump’ on nearly all of them. It would appear both easy and cost-effective to spin up a new variant.

This isn’t to say these are cookie-cutter shoes, though. While at first glance, these look to be classic Oxfords in a kind of hybrid between English and American styles, each one of the Oxfords has its subtleties.

Consider the most conservative of these- the “Dean” in black. The toe cap extends much further up the vamp than Allen Edmonds’ Park Avenue model. This gives the impression of a longer, more elegant shape to the foot.

Or, take my current favorite, the “Durant” in Bordeaux/burgundy. It has the same extended toe cap and slight almond toe as the Dean for that lovely shape, but also some additional elements. Both the heel and toe feature broguing and pinking, and the upper vamp features a U-shaped ‘Adelaide’ design. Some may consider this quite busy, but I think it creates an interesting look without going too far. It’s an Oxford! It’s a Brogue! It’s a…Broxford?

The Verdict

Having owned four pairs of Beckett Simonon Oxfords over the last three or so years, I can say they’re well worth it and punch far above their price point. The leather isn’t amazing-but, in my view, it is superior to a standard shoe from Cole Haan or Johnston & Murphy.

The styles are versatile and easy to wear in a variety of scenarios. However, I would gravitate toward darker finishes on the Oxfords. The ‘oak’ is somewhat similar to the ‘coffee brown’ from Allen Edmonds. While the ‘tan’ may, in theory, be close to Allen Edmonds’ ‘walnut’ finish, in my experience the colorway borders on orange.

They will largely run true to your normal dress shoe size if you have a standard foot. If you’re like me and have a narrow foot, consider taking at least a half-size down, if not a full size; gents with wider feet should look to take a half-size up.

Err on the side of a little snug at first, as the leather will stretch and conform to your foot over three or four wearings. When properly sized, then, the Oxfords are well worth it.

Beckett Simonon Loafers

Quality & Construction

The loafers from Beckett Simonon are made with the same Italian leather as the Oxfords. I’ve found the materials to be of similar quality, if not better. The upper on my current pair is actually quite soft, and feels marginally thicker than my Oxfords. The sole is the same leather mixture as the Oxfords. And, the lining is the same as well. The stitching is the same consistent, even spacing all the way through. The heel is nicely secured.

The only issue with the loafers comes from the horsebit itself. The hardware feels a little cheap and can jingle annoyingly when I walk up steps. That’s a minor quibble if anything, though.

Comfort & Fit

I took the same size (9) in the loafers as I did in the lace-ups. As a guy with feet that are not only narrow but quite flat, loafers are usually the most difficult to find the right fit in many standard/D width shoes. If I find the right length, it’s usually too wide and gaps at the side when I walk. Sizing down can solve that problem, but can also pinch my toes.

This last, in a 9, is definitely shorter than my dress shoes in the same size. As a result, my toes come a little closer to the end than I’d prefer. But, wearing thin dress socks or even going sockless has largely dealt with the issue. If you’ve got an average foot, though, taking your normal loafer size will be just fine.

For me, then, these aren’t the most comfortable Beckett Simonon shoes. But, if you’ve got an average foot, taking your normal size should be just fine. As with the Oxfords, there’s no cork in the midsole or any kind of foam. That still shouldn’t be a dealbreaker for many.

Style & Design

Beckett Simonon offers two very different styles of loafers. The “Beaumont” is a classic penny loafer shape with a horsebit detail, and the “Bernard” tassel loafer and  “Cohen” penny loafers have elongated toe boxes.

The Beaumont’s shape and detailing is reminiscent of the iconic Gucci 1953 loafer. A slightly shorter toe box and smaller vamp means it isn’t quite as streamlined as the original, but the homage is definitely clear. True menswear nerds may be able to spot the differences, but the general public will consider them an interesting pair of shoes.

That’s especially true if you get them in “pull-up” leather. Also called waxed leather and similar to the name-brand ChromExcel, this is a finishing technique where hot oils and waxes are applied to the hide during the tanning process, which can take as long as six weeks to do. What results is a unique effect where you can see the oils move around in the leather when it is pulled or stretched- hence the name. It’s usually applied to work boots and bags, but could make for an interesting finish on some loafers.

The Bernard and Cohen models are slightly more unusual, and I must admit I’m not a fan. They look nice in the product photos, but just don’t sit right with me when I put them on. The toe box is too long and makes my foot look boat-like. The tassel on the Bernards look out of place, as if the styling is trying too hard to be ‘classic’ and ‘modern’ at the same time. And, the heel is far too clunky for a refined shoe.

Scaling each of these features down — a shorter toe box, less-dandy tassel, and a more elegant shape on the heel would make for a far better shoe. In short, the Allen Edmonds Grayson model.

The Verdict

With two different styles currently on offer, Beckett Simonon can accommodate a wide range of guys. If you like a Gucci-type loafer without the luxury markup, the Beaumont might be a good option for you. But, I’d avoid the Cohens and Bernards, as this line seems to be trying to mash two different styles together.

Beckett Simonon Boots

Quality & Construction

A good quality boot should be in every man’s wardrobe. Ideally, they should be welted, with a full-grain leather upper, stacked leather heel, brass or other metal eyelets and speed hooks, and durable rubber outsole. Of course, these can come in at quite the cost, with many retailing for north of $400 or,  in some cases, $500 or more. How does Beckett Simonon stack up?

Beckett Simonon’s boots are not welted, but instead Blake stitched like their dress shoes. On one hand, this may lack some of the branding and shelf appeal that a Goodyear welted boot would have. On the other, the stitching may actually help the boots break in more quickly. In my experience, it hasn’t really made a great deal of difference. I’ve worn a pair of the Dowler boots for nearly a year now and the construction has held up beautifully.

Though it seems somewhat contradictory, I’d always wanted to try a pair of suede boots. The boot, of course, is designed to be functional and take quite the beating. How would a more delicate material like suede hold up, particularly in adverse weather conditions?

I’m pleased to report this has been successful. The suede on my pair is an excellent blend of being soft while maintaining its shape. It isn’t as nappy as some of my suede dress shoes (including my pair of Beckett Simonon suede Oxfords), but I suppose that’s a trade-off for weatherproofing the uppers.

The hardware is also a place where brands can cut corners, and it doesn’t look like Beckett Simonon did that here. The brass backing on the eyelets are securely in place, and I couldn’t bend the speed hooks even if I tried.

Two minor gripes on construction: First, while the SBR rubber sole is fine enough and has performed well, I have felt soles of better quality and slightly better traction at similar price points. Secondly, the pull tab at the back also feels thin and kind of cheap. But, as I’ve been able to pull the boots on without it, it’s far from a dealbreaker for me.

Comfort & Fit

As with the dress shoes, I’ve found Beckett Simonon’s boots to be quite comfortable. Like the shoes, there’s no cork midsole or foam layer on the inside. But, the leather lining is more than soft enough, and there’s plenty of padding to cushion the ride.

This lack of a foam layer on the inside has actually been a good thing. For instance, I’ve had a pair of Thursday Boots with a ‘comfort strip’ of EVA foam layered underneath a leather lining. While, in theory, it’s a great idea (and results in a supremely comfortable boot at first), after about six to eight months of wear, that strip compresses and results in a pretty firm ride in the end.

I also found the fit on my boots to be a little different than the lace-ups and loafers. In most cases, taking a half-size smaller on boots is usually a good rule to follow. While a 9 is definitely my size in Oxfords and probably my best size in the loafers, I was mistakenly sent a 9.5 in the boot. I tried them on and, to my delight, they fit wonderfully with a pair of boot socks. I suspect the reason is the higher shaft on the boot mitigates any potential gapping issues. However, if you have standard ‘D’ width fit, taking your normal boot size should be just fine.

Style & Design

Like their Oxford selection, Beckett Simonon offers quite the range of boots in smooth leather, pull-up leather, and suede. There’s my Dowler, which is a slightly refined combat-style boot. Then, there are wingtips, derby-style boots, Chelseas, dress boots, and one appearing to be a more refined version of Alden’s iconic “Indy” boot.

All this choice can be kind of overwhelming — but, from my outside view, it looks like bootmaking is where the company has really invested their R&D. It’s safe to say, then, Beckett Simonon will likely have a boot to suit your style.

Colorways are offered in mostly the same names and finishes as their dress shoes. I found my ‘chesnut’ colorway on the Dowler to have a slightly orangish undertone. While that’s something I wouldn’t seek out in my dress shoes or loafers, I think it lends a rugged appeal.

The Verdict

While my dress shoes from the company have definitely gotten more wear, I’m more and more intrigued every time I visit the website and see new styles popping up. I suppose because everything is indeed made-to-order, the company can afford to experiment and make something like a balmoral boot. While the rubber outsole leaves a little to be desired, I’ve found the boots to be well-made with excellent materials and to fit very well. I can wholeheartedly recommend them.

Beckett Simonon vs. Allen Edmonds

Now, let’s consider Beckett Simonon against the perennial powerhouse of Allen Edmonds in the same categories of Quality, Construction, Fit, and Design.

A favorite of US Presidents and business executives, Allen Edmonds is a heritage brand long-regarded for its quality materials and attention to detail. As the primary supplier of boots and shoes to the US Army during the Second World War, the company gained a loyal following that continued well into the 1980s and 1990s. However, with increasingly relaxed workplace dress codes and the retirement of much of their customer base, the brand had to reinvent itself to target a younger audience as it approached its 100th anniversary in business.

Such change hasn’t come easy. Allen Edmonds  was bought by a private equity firm in 2013 and then sold in 2016 to Caleres, the parent shoe company of brands like Sam Edelman, Famous Footwear, and Naturalizer. But, quality control issues had been looming since before the sales, and many longtime fans began to take notice.

Today, the brand is doubling down on “Made in America” and relying on their heritage as an iconic American company. The vast majority of the shoes are still produced in Port Washington, Wisconsin, though a small number of them are at least partially constructed in the Dominican Republic.

While they aren’t as transparent as Beckett Simonon on where they source their calfskin from (the website just says “ultra-refined, premium European calfskin uppers…whatever that means), they are at least full-grain. AE does say, however, where their other materials come from: the suede is from England’s CF Stead and the shell cordovan from Chicago’s Horween tannery.

In my experience, Allen Edmonds still does produce quality footwear with good materials. While I no longer have any of their Oxfords in my collection, I do have two pairs of Grayson loafers. The leather upper is noticeably thicker than Beckett Simonon, and the colorways  a little richer. The upper takes and holds polish better, too, producing an attractive shine.

As for construction, the 48 pairs of hands and 212 steps have done a good job on both of my current pairs. The stitch density is tight and even, the Goodyear welt is well done, and the stacked heel is securely nailed in. Each pair has held up well through a few years of wear, and I have the feeling they’ll last for quite a few more.

I’ve also found my Allen Edmonds pairs to be quite comfortable, but not measurably more than my Beckett Simonon ones. Brand loyalists rave about the cork midsole, but I consider it more a ‘nice-to-have’ than a necessity. But, at the end of a long day on your feet walking a tradeshow floor, it is really, really nice to have!

Fit is an area where Allen Edmonds has a clear advantage over Beckett Simonon. They offer anything from a 5AAAA (extra narrow) to 16EEE (extra wide). Beckett Simonon isn’t able to compete with that as they only offer standard D width. As mentioned earlier, I’ve not had any issues taking a smaller size to accommodate my narrow foot- but it is nice to be able to order a 10B from Allen Edmonds and know it will fit.

Allen Edmonds offers Oxfords, Derbies, Loafers, Sneakers, and Boots in a wide range. They are quite conservative in their style and design, though, and the lasts are definitely less elegant across the board than Beckett Simonon’s. But, they’re classic for a reason, and will look just as stylish 10 years from now.

I prefer the styling on Beckett Simonon’s Dean Oxford to Allen Edmonds’ Park Avenue. For me, the toe cap is oddly short, leading to a kind of squat and stubby look. However, I’d choose the Allen Edmonds Grayson for a pair of tassel loafers and the Dalton for a pair of wingtip dress boots.

Bottom Line: Are Beckett Simonon Shoes Worth It?

Ultimately, it comes down to your budget and your style. Is a pair of Beckett Simonon shoes, at roughly half the retail price of Allen Edmonds, worth the wait?  If you have standard D width feet, probably.

Allen Edmonds still does make a very good shoe with excellent materials. But, given recent quality control issues, $395 for a pair of Oxfords is pretty steep. However, during one of their spring and fall sales events, you can snag a pair of dress shoes for around $250.

With Beckett Simonon, you’re going to get a shoe with excellent materials and construction. The designs are fresh and modern, but still versatile with a full range of Oxfords, Loafers, and a wide variety of boot styles even many global brands don’t offer. And, like most brands these days, the MSRP isn’t the end price. The company will send you a code for 20% off for simply entering your email, which takes you well south of $200.

It is also worth considering the lead time. Allen Edmonds has many retail locations around the United States, and it’s easy to go in, get sized, and walk out with your new pair. If they don’t have your width in store or available online, one can be made and shipped to you in under a month. Beckett Simonon takes between three and four months to arrive. While some may balk at this prospect, I’m actually in agreement with the rationale.

Waiting for your purchase encourages one to be more intentional with what they buy. If you’re buying from Beckett Simonon, you’ve likely taken the time and effort to browse the site and come up with a variety of ways to wear your shoes. Versatile shoes get worn instead of taking up space on your shelf and, ultimately, ending up in a donation pile or in landfill.

But, good materials, great design, a great message, and accessible price point don’t mean much if the shoe doesn’t fit. If you have quite narrow or quite wide feet, Beckett Simonon isn’t a realistic option for you yet. I’ve found I can get a good fit and accommodate my narrow feet by taking a whole size down — but you may have issues. If that’s the case, Allen Edmonds truly is one of the companies still able to adequately size such a broad range of men, and will be your go-to.

For me, though, this upstart company with a good message gives the stalwart brand quite a run — and is well worth it.

I love browsing online and getting inspired (and let’s be honest, I always end up adding a few things to my own shopping cart 🙂 so I wanted to share some of my favorite gift ideas that mom will love. I included some all price points, from under $10 to,.. well, to Chanel haha 🙊

BEAUTIFUL MOTHER’S DAY SWEATSHIRT (UNDER $50)
DENIM SHORTS
WHITE COWBOY BOOTS (UNDER $50)

 JO MALONE CANDLE (under $50)
GUCCI RING
DIOR EYE PATCHES (UNDER $50)
BANDOLIER PHONE CASE (under $50)
MAMA GOLD NECKLACE (under $50)
NEON SCHUTZ SANDALS
GUCCI FLORA FRAGRANCE
STATEMENT FLOWER EARRINGS (under $15)
LANEIGE LIP TREATMENT (under $25)
CARAWAY POTS & PANS SET
NIKE DUNK LOW
DOUBLE AIR FRYER
BEAUTIFUL MOTHER’S DAY SWEATSHIRT (under $50)
GUCCI LIPSTICK (under $50)
TOM FORD FRAGRANCE & BODY OIL SET

I put some of my tried and true favorites on here like the Bandolier phone case. I just ordered it in purple, It’s cute and functional and comes in tons of colors. I also can’t get enough of the Tom Ford shimmering body oil (it’s so pretty on and seriously smells amazingg.) Some home items I love as well – the Caraway pots & pans set and the double air fryer (such a game-changer.) I also found this cute graphic Mother’s Day sweatshirt for under $50 (size XL.) I even got the kids matching versions which are currently sold out atm 🙁 but the adult version is fully stocked!

 CLOUD SUMMER SLIDES (under $50)
ROMAN NUMERAL RING (under $15)
ELEMIS CLEANSING BALM
GOLD WATCH (under $100)
PINK CHECKER BLANKET (under $100)
CAN SHAPED GLASS SET (under $30)
GRATITUDE JOURNAL (under $30)
PEARL HOOP EARRINGS (under $15)
WORKOUT SHORTS (under $50)
PASTEL LOVE HOODIE (under $30)
DIOR LIP GLOSS
CREAM COFFEE TUMBLER (under $10)

I found so many affordable Mother’s Day gift ideas on Amazon from home to beauty to fashion items (all under $100.) My everyday jewelry: this Roman Numeral ring is so cute and under $15 and my gold watch (under $100) a staple jewelry piece every mom will love. I also included some of my most-worn clothing items like these workout shorts (I have them in neon green too! – size S) they are SO flattering and comfortable at a great price point with high reviews. For affordable beauty gifts I can’t recommend this Elemis cleansing balm enough, it’s been a favorite of mine for years. Gifts for the home – I love these soda can shaped glassware for iced coffee or my smoothies in the morning (comes in a set of 8 for under $30.) I also found this adorable pink checker throw blanket, it’s so soft and I’m obsessed with the print.

GUCCI SANDALS 
BYREDO PERFUME
STRIPED TOTE
APPLE WATCH STRAP
CE FERULIC ACID (MY STAPLE)
DIOR LIP OIL (USED HERE)
CHANEL BACKPACK
GIVENCHY SETTING POWDER (COLOR CORRECTING!)
PRADA SUNGLASSES
BRASS SALT MILL

For the moms who love the little luxuries of life, here are some splurge-worthy gift ideas she will love. I’ve had this Apple watch strap for a year and still get tons of questions on it when I wear it. It’s amazing quality and makes me feel like I’m wearing one of my favorite designer watches but I still get all the convenience of having a smart watch. I also included some of my favorite high-end beauty products, both tried-and-true (this CE Ferulic acid is my holy grail) and new favorites (this lip oil is everything and I instantly converted to this color correcting setting powder when my makeup artist used it on me.)

 

HUMIDIFIER (UNDER $100)
STEAM MOP (30% OFF)
PEBBLE ICE MACHINE
ROBOT VACUUM (39% OFF)

A few of these cult household products are on sale right now so I wanted to share a few that I think mom would love! I know some people have strong opinions about getting household products as Mother’s Day gifts haha but me and my mom love cleaning and organizing and I feel like these are little life luxuries that some moms won’t splurge on for themselves. I use my pebble ice machine all day everyday. It’s one of those simple pleasures that will totally change your day!

If you’re looking for more high-ticket gift ideas for mom that she will use everyday…

– APPLE AIRPODS MAX: I have yet to make the switch from the Airpod Pros but I’ve heard amazing things about these! They come in so many pretty colors too.

– DYSON AIRWRAP: These are hit or miss just because they can be tricky to find in stock – I found it in stock here and here this morning but I’m sure they will go fast. Every time I use mine I get tons of compliments on my hair – obsessed with the volume you get!

 

Linking a few more gift ideas for mom at various price points if you need more Mother’s Day inspo:

XX, Christine

Uniquely designed sizes: It is critical to get esteem back from your cash while purchasing a superior quality jacket. Purchasing specially crafted Jackets guarantee you the equivalent.

Envision how you will feel assuming the jacket you get has extra-long sleeves or an unnecessarily wide chest, you wouldn’t feel on your skin wearing the jacket, also the junky look it gives. For sure, you wouldn’t wear a wrongly fitting jacket. Having a veritable leather jacket planned definitively for your body’s shape and size promises you the ideal decision. Decide your body boundaries’ size to assist you with pursuing an optimal decision.

Gets better with age:
Jackets resemble a fine wine that gets better with age. As the leather jacket’s fabric separates, the jacket continues to turn out to be increasingly agreeable and delicate. In addition, you might see that your jacket blurs with time, however, the change is just slight. Generally, it simply implies an adjustment of the tone. On the off chance that you don’t believe your jacket should blur, store it inside and apply a leather molding item like a seat cleanser.

Buildup and moisture safe: Jackets likewise enjoy a lesser-known benefit. They structure a tough hindrance against moisture and buildup. However leather isn’t waterproof, it wouldn’t get hurt whenever presented with unassuming amounts of water. The extreme attribute of leather is the justification for why a few groups put on jackets over their jackets.

If you want to have a pair of happy feet, getting a pedicure every 6 weeks is a must. Some nail professionals might advise you to visit the salon every 4 weeks if they notice your toenails need extra care or if your nails grow fast. Generally speaking, you can get a pedicure whenever you want. During the warmer months, your nails might need some extra maintenance, or you might be in the mood for more experimentation with colors and styles now that they’re out for everyone to see. So let’s talk all things pedicure and answer some of the most popular questions surrounding the topic!

Are Pedicures Really Worth It?

Many people wonder if going to the salon for a pedicure is actually worth it. Do they really do something to your feet that you can’t master at home?

The answer is yes. Obviously, nail art professionals don’t just paint your toenails. They look after the overall health of your skin and toenails. Using a professional exfoliation tool, they keep your feet moisturized, and the dead skin filed where it’s needed. Women tend to spend hundreds of dollars on expensive face creams, yet when it comes to their feet, they often let their skin get dry and cracked. Letting your feet soak in a foot tub with a few drops of your favorite essential oils can do wonders for your skin, especially if your favorite nail artist has added a dash of aromatic bath salts. I feel more relaxed just writing about it.

Most importantly, regular pedicures will help you avoid ingrown toenails, leading to various nail infections. Professional nail technicians are pedicure specialists qualified to treat ingrown nails. You can treat ingrown nails with a basic procedure or just a few regular visits to the salon when spotted on time. However, foot and nail infections of this kind, when in a severe state, can be a painful problem, requiring a nail bracket or, in the worst cases – surgery.

Frequent pedicures can help you prevent and treat ingrown nails, which are often a result of poor nail-cutting technique. Here’s some more good news – you won’t have to cut your own nails if you start visiting the salon often enough! You can rely entirely on your nail salon to maintain your feet. Isn’t that great?

How Long Should You Wait Between Pedicures?

Wondering how often should you get a pedicure? This is the perfect question to ask your pedicure specialist when you go for your first pedicure. Depending on your nails and skin condition, you might be asked to come in every two to three weeks or every four weeks in some cases. Crack healing may require more frequent visits, just as ingrown toenail treatment.

If you got a gel pedicure and didn’t require any other treatments, you can safely wait around 6 weeks until your next appointment – the typical wait-time for a normal pedicure. Our toenails take longer to grow, and you won’t notice a difference in the quality of your pedicure either.

Of course, every rule has an exception – if you decide to wear a light color and a matte top while wearing open-toe shoes, your nail polish may get dirty from the surrounding environment. This is especially true if you use white or light powdered pigment on your toenails. The gritty and matte finish collects more dirt than any other type of nail polish.

A typical pedicure lasts around 6 weeks before beginning to crack or show imperfections. If yours doesn’t, and your gel nail polish starts to peel off or crack, you might be getting ripped off by the salon. Many salons tend to use thinner or acetone to extend the life of old nail polish bottles. You might be short-changed if you notice a drastic change in color from what is presented on the bottle or severe bubbling up. Switch your salon!

There is such a thing as visiting the salon too often! Callus smoothing and crack treatment require exfoliation, which can be overdone. You don’t want to exfoliate any part of your skin too much, which I know can be tempting – we all love the smooth and soft feeling post-exfoliation. Remember the golden rule – nothing in excess! Over-exfoliation can lead to the opposite effect and cause blistering, more callus formation, and other unpleasant side effects. A good pedicure professional who’s not there just for the money will advise against ultra-regular visits to the nail salon.

How To Prepare for My Pedicure Appointment?

In all honesty, there is very little you should be doing to prepare for a professional pedicure. After all, you pay money for these fabulous nails, so you should leave most of the prep to the professionals. However, there are a couple of minor things you could pay attention to before you head over to the nail salon.

• Significant preparation isn’t necessary, but visiting the salon with clean feet is appreciated. Everyone should visit nail salons with clean feet to prevent the spreading of fungus and other bacteria.
• Wear breathable shoes and socks to prevent your feet from getting smelly. Don’t forget you’ll always start your pedicure soaking your feet in warm water mixed with essential oils, so don’t worry about unpleasant smells reaching the nail technician.
• You could remove previous nail polish at home, but I can guarantee your nail technician will do it for you, most often free of charge. Chances are they’ll do it faster and better than you too!
• Often times I go to my nail appointments only to find I forgot to shave my legs. Awkward! Yes, I am aware we live in the 21st century, and it’s “my body my choice” I don’t judge anyone who lets their leg hair grow wild shamelessly. It’s a personal preference, and I don’t know about you, but I prefer to go smooth-legged than hairy. So if you’re like me, this is your reminder – shave before your pedicure!
• Here’s a myth – you’re probably thinking, “I should cut my nails before I go for my pedicure.” Right? Wrong! The correct answer is – don’t touch your nails. Don’t get tempted to cut the toenails yourself. Firstly, you might be using the wrong technique. Most ingrown nails are a result of poor nail housekeeping! Secondly, different pedicure requires different nail length. You can’t really get a french pedi if you’ve trimmed your nails up to your cuticles. Leave the nail artists something to work with!

That wasn’t too bad, was it! Now you know there’s very little you need to do before you get a pedicure. Maintaining good hygiene is pretty much the only thing to focus on.

What to Expect After Getting a Pedicure?

Goodbye, tired feet! A monthly pedicure can do wonders for your feet. Not to mention, if you’re visiting the salon to treat ingrown toenails, you should see drastic improvements after just a couple of visits. I wholeheartedly recommend getting pedicures in the summer and leaving yourself a break during the winter months. There are numerous benefits to getting pedicures and manicures:

Bye-bye Infections

Yes, getting a regular pedicure is supposed to prevent infections. Looking after the skin on your feet will keep them healthy and moist. Say goodbye to cracks, dry skin, and infections. Depending on how often you get a pedicure, you can prevent your nails from growing inwards and causing severe infection and deformation of your toe.

Muscle Tension – No More

Getting a pedicure is as circulation boosting as plopping on a massage chair. Receiving a foot massage reduces muscle tension and improves blood circulation, too!

Younger-Looking Skin

When your hands or feet receive regular hydration, your skin will look younger and healthier too. You’ll always get a chance to apply some first-class moisturizer at your nail salon. Keeping your cuticles healthy with some essential oil also contributes to the extraordinary appearance of your skin. Just make sure to ask your pedicure specialist about the different hydrating options if they don’t do it already!

Great Mental Health

Listen, a pedicure worth 35-40$ will always be cheaper than seeing a therapist. I don’t know about you, but the hour and a half I spend at the salon can lift immense mental baggage off me. It has been proved that pamper sessions can significantly reduce stress levels! I always feel happier after I pay a visit to my nail salon, even if I just got a basic pedicure.

What’s The Difference Between a Pedicure & Manicure?

Pedicure sessions tend to be lengthier and more expensive. Do you wonder why and what the difference is between a pedicure and a manicure? You might be thinking, what’s so special abou the one or the other? It’s ten nails that get a makeover at each session, right? While that’s true (unless you lost a toe for some unfortunate reason), there are some noticeable differences between the two procedures.

When you go get a pedicure, you’re not only leaving with beautiful and healthy toenails. You’re also treating your feet to a nail spa. A full procedure includes:

• Soaking your feet in bath salts and essential oil
• Rinsing your feet
• Exfoliating your feet
• Massaging your feet (not for the ticklish!)
• Filing calluses and removing dead skin
• Removing old polish
• Trimming, filing, and buffing your nails
• Pushing back cuticles
• Cutting cuticles (optional)
• Painting the nails with gel polish or regular polish
• Hydrating the feet with a foot cream
• Applying cuticle oil to each toe

As you can see, a pedicure is a little different from a manicure. It requires a few extra steps to get the healthy feet of your dreams, but it’s all worth it in the end! You can always opt to get a normal pedicure without any polish and just allow the nail artist to keep your feet in check, trim what needs trimming and exfoliate what needs exfoliating!

What About Men?

Even after so many years and the numerous health benefits proven by doctors, men still need a lot of convincing to get a pedicure. Society has somehow managed to portray this as emasculating, to make things worse! Wondering how often you should get a pedicure as a man? As often as you like! Doctors recommend going for a pedicure to avoid ingrown toenails for men specifically, so make sure you get a pedicure every so often to make sure everything is alright down there.

And seriously, guys, no one is asking you to stay for a paraffin pedicure or a full pedicure and choose a toenail color! You can visit a salon once a month to boost your toenail care and look after hard-to-reach areas. Not everything can be fixed with a pumice stone! Getting a pedicure is nothing to be ashamed about, and you might prevent some nasty infections with just a few harmless visits!

You Nailed It!

You reached the end of our article! Now you know tons about pedicures. Do you want to check out related content? Check out the different manicure types. You might find some inspiration there for your next visit to the salon!

We don’t just write articles about pedicures. We cover a vast range of topics, like finding the best primer for large pores.

Alternatively, you might be interested in the best indoor tanning lotions, just in time for summer!

I hope you enjoyed our take on the famously asked question. Now shoo. Go get those nails done!

This activewear set + oversized blazer (under $60) is one of my favorite combos for spring – the color is a pretty pastel blue and the quality is amazing!

Obsessed with this 90s vibe Coach bag! Also these vintage cateye sunnies are so fun and under $10! The shape is super cute and they comes in tons of other lens and glasses colors too.

CREAM RIBBED SHORTS SET (UNDER $40 – WEARING SIZE S)
BLUE BLAZER (UNDER $60 – WEARING SIZE L)
WHITE CATEYE SUNNIES (UNDER $10)
BLUE COACH BAG
SOCKS (UNDER $15)
VEJA SNEAKERS

After wearing the leggings version of this cream ribbed activewear set a ton during the fall and winter, I sold myself on getting the shorts version for spring and summer. I have it in brown, blue, and orange and wore them so much last summer. It’s under $40 and comes in tons more colors (wearing size small). It’s such a versatile activewear set that can go from the gym to a casual everyday outfit. I’ve been loving the matching sets paired with oversized blazers (the perfect layer to help transition between season!) I’m obsessed with this oversized pastel blazer I found on Amazon for under $60! (I also got it in this tan color – I got a large in both for an extra boxy fit.)

I’d been looking for a light blue bag for this season and had been eyeing this Coach bag and was shocked to find it on Amazon.  I loved the shape and color of this one. It also comes in other fun colors like green and pink. Such a cute bag for spring and summer!

What do you think of this spring look? Let me know below in the comments 🙂

xx, Christine

 

Love the cut out detail on this sleeve! Between the color and the sleeves, it feels like a major statement moment.

The boys in their matching Easter outfits. So cute!

Boys think shaking their booties is the funniest thing. Ollie has started “dancing” like Beckam and Wes and it cracks everyone up

 

DETAILS: GREEN EYELET-SLEEVE DRESS – WEARING SIZE S | NEON HEELS (UNDER $150)| PEARL EARRINGS

CODY: TAN BLAZER | TAN SLACKS

WES: BUTTON DOWN (ALSO LOVE THIS ONE) | KHAKI PANTS

MARA: RIBBED LONG SLEEVE TOP | ORANGE FLORAL DRESS (ON SALE UNDER $10!) | NEON NIKES

BECKAM: KHAKI PANTS | NIKES

OLLIE: KHAKI SUIT | WHITE BUTTON DOWN | BLUE NIKES

Our family easter pictures are always one of my favorites of the year – with 6 people, getting a family pic with coordinated outfits can be rare 😂 so I always get excited for our family Easter outfits. I feel like the kids are all finding their own style, this year more than ever, and we are all obsessed with Nike Dunks right now so I thought it would be fun to embrace the color this year, especially with our shoe game. We all wear our Dunks and Jordans so much – they go with everything and come in so many different colors. The kids love them so much that they have saved up to buy their own pairs. Super comfortable and great quality 🙌🏼

Mara picked out her dress, I loved the colors and it’s such a good price point. she had idea to wear long sleeve underneath since it’s still kind of cold here. Cannot believe it’s $7.25!!

I always end up ordering pieces pretty last minute once I get a better sense of direction for our outfits so I wanted to share a few of my favorite retailers with quick shipping in case you’re in a pinch for an event or occasion:

ASOS – Great options for both him & her – lots of occasion dressing too! Love their price points and they have fast shipping – arrives in 24-48 hours if you join the unlimited shipping for $20.

AMAZON – You guys know how much I’ve been loving Amazon – I feel like they’ve been adding so many brands recently so their designer and budget-friendly options are insane. If I’m in a bind I hit prime filter at top and you can even click how soon you need it delivered like by tomorrow or same day.

SHOPBOP – One of my favorites when I’m shopping for dresses, and other designer pieces. They are good at their overnight shipping it’s not like 2-3 day processing time like a lot of other retailers. They are great with really getting things overnight or if you have prime membership you can get in 2 days.

Linking more from our Easter outfits here:

XX, Christine

One of my favorite things to do is travel as a family. We travel quite a bit for work, and fun, we have tried so many different gadgets I wanted to put a list together of my tried and true favorites. There have been so many amazing travel accessories for kids over the years that make traveling so much easier.

DETAILS: SCOOTER SUITCASE | PHONE HOLDER | WAYB TRAVEL CAR SEAT | DOONA STROLLER | DOONA TRIKE | WIRELESS KID HEADPHONES

The Doona stroller (stroller/carseat combo) is one of the ultimate baby buys we used every single day when we first had Ollie and the Donna Trike is the equivalent for toddlers. After Ollie outgrew the carseat we graduated to the Doona Trike and we use it all. the. time. It’s a mix between a trike and a stroller and perfect for toddlers, both while traveling or at home running errands, going on walks, etc. It folds down to fit inside of the backpack it comes with so you can easily pack it up and throw it over your shoulder when it’s not being used. It’s super lightweight and a great carry-on size so it’s perfect for flights, road trips, or just every day use. People alwaysss stop and ask us about it. Definitely one toddler accessory that will change the way you travel.

 

This phone mount has been great for us to prop up our phone for our kids to watch a show in the airport or to turn on Ollie’s shows on the airplane. It clips to the tray table so ollie isn’t always touching it changing it. It’s under $25 and we even use it a to when we aren’t traveling, it’s also great for Ollie when were out and about running errands! The older kids love it too.

These scooter suitcases are genius! They are carry on size for all the kids and can attach and detach from the scooter wheel base and can even fold down into regular wheeler suitcases. It keeps the kids entertained at the airport if we have a long layover, and I love that they have a scooter to cruise around on when we are exploring on vacation. It’s definitely more of a splurge but SO worth it in my opinion. I also love how the kids can use the scooter part alone, so it’s super versatile!

I love wireless headphones for Ollie because he usually will get irritated with the cords getting tangled and taking them on and off becomes a hassle. This kid size pair is under $30 and I love how these are made for kids and has built in hearing protection so the volume can’t go too loud.

• When Ollie outgrew the Doona stroller, I missed having such an easy way to travel with a carseat so I was beyond excited when I found this travel car seat. We usually rent a car when we travel and are out driving around and exploring a lot so having a car seat with us is a must but lugging around a big, heavy carseat was a pain. This travel car seat has been a complete game changer! It’s super lightweight and folds up into the carrying bag it comes with.For perspective the car seat weighs 8 lbs and regular car seats average 15-30 lbs. (You can also purchase it without the carrying case here – comes in multiple colors.)

Let me know if you have any love any of these travel accessories of what you’re excited to try!

xx, Christine

I can’t with this face 🥺

OUTFIT DETAILS: WHITE FLUTTER SLEEVE TOP (ON SALE UNDER $25 – WEARING SIZE S) | DENIM

CRAFT TABLESCAPE: WOODEN EGG PAINTING KIT | ROUND JUTE PLACEMAT | PLAID NAPKINS | BLUE LINEN TABLECLOTH | STUFFED BUNNY | COLORFUL GLASSWARE | PINK COOKWARE SET

Every holiday I look forward to doing a cute craft with the kids. Honestly we love crafts year round, but the holidays always bring out the cutest craft sets and I was instantly obsessed when I found this wooden egg painting kit for Easter! Next thing I knew I was setting up a little craft tablescape to do with the kids– Ollie couldn’t wait to paint some of his eggs 😂 but we saved the other half to paint once Mara, Wes, and Beckam got home that day. I set out a few snacks and treats for the kids and it turned into such a fun afternoon.

The craft kit itself is so perfect for any age. It comes with the cutest egg carton and paint set. Ollie got a little hands on with them and I love how they turned out even as a 2 year old! It makes a great keepsake to remember that age by. The older kids loved it too – it’s so fun to see their art skills and creativity develop. 💜 I also love the idea as an adult if you want a specific color scheme or pattern to decorate for Easter while letting your creativity out at the same time.

Linking the craft set and a few other Easter tablescape favorites below:

XX, Christine

Thanks for all of you guys’ amazing responses and dms after my Part I post about blended families and bonus moms – I was doing a Q&A on stories yesterday and realized I never posted the part 2! I love being able to bring a more open conversation around blended families and motherhood as a bonus mama.

SCHEDULES/LIFESTYLE

Q: Do you get a long with Cody’s ex-wife? Do you guys hang out?

A. Im really grateful we all get a long. 

One thing I wished could have been different for me growing up, was that when my parents got divorced they would have been friends (I love both my parents very much and I know no family is perfect, but it was hard at times feeling that tension). They lived across the country from each other, so they didn’t have to see each other much. When I would go to visit my mom I would fly by myself (I don’t know if they still do this, but I started at like 5 or 6 years old and my parents would walk me to the gate and then you sit in back row by flight attendant and do the flight on your own. I actually have a lot of fun memories with super kind flight attendants who would play games and stuff with me. I think this is also part of the reason I learned to become pretty independent at a young age, and traveling alone hasn’t ever really scared me but anyways…), but ya I still always felt that awkward tension whenever they were in the same room. I remember even on my wedding day being worried about making sure both parents felt they got equal attention and love. And maybe that was something I created in my head, but it made me want to make it a priority when we got married that we have a good relationship with Cody’s ex, so that the kids never felt that tension or stress, and so we could all go to the kids events and it not be awkward. Again, this was not an overnight thing, it took years to get to that point. Especially if this is a fresh situation, it will take a lot of time.  But as a kid who has been on that side of divorce, that was one thing I really wanted different for our kids.

Time, time, time! I think it all just takes time, but I love talking to their mom about the kids and sharing excitement for the things they are doing, or things they are learning or going through. We all sit by each other at most of the kids games and events, it’s in a good place.

Q. Do you get a say in making all of the decisions about schools and such. How do you deal with that aspect? 

A. Long story short, I have no say haha. Cody talks to me about it, but that is one of the hard parts of being a bonus mom, you love your bonus babies and help raise them but in my case I’m not really a decision maker. I mean day to day what we are doing Cody and I decide, but bigger decisions Cody and his ex wife work out together. 

Q. As the bonus moms/parents, are you involved in communication to his ex or just Cody?

A. In our situation, Cody and his ex work out details for the most part. Obviously there are times when Cody is still at work or out of town or something so I pick up/drop off the kids, etc. but the majority of communication is between her and Cody. We recently started a group text for sports and school scheduling and sometimes share pictures of the kids from school or sports too, but most scheduling goes through them.

Q. How do you handle frustration with your step kids’ schedule?

A. One thing that took time for me to realize and understand is that when you’re a step parent (not always the case, but at least in my situation) even if you all get along, at the end of the day you have little say over holidays, school schedules, really just plans in general. For me, somebody who likes to plan ahead and be in control, it’s sometimes hard. For example, when we were trying to plan a trip and I would ask Cody if he had texted the kids’ mom to make sure certain days work and I would want immediate answers for things 😂 and he’s like I haven’t talked to her yet, and I’m all well call right now, what’s the hold up 😂😂 I eventually realized that 1) sometimes you don’t get immediate answers because she has a life too obviously and you can’t expect immediate responses all the time and 2) things take longer to coordinate and plan than it would with your own kids, so you have to plan ahead a little further. 

Q. Do you have full custody? How often and how long do your bonus kids stay with you?

A. We have joint custody so it alters. Right now, every other week we have them for Thursday/Friday, and then the next week 4 days Thursday-Sunday.

Q. Would you ever travel without the bonus kids?

A. I think our situation is a little different because we LOVE to travel and also travel quite a bit for work, but we always make sure to plan all our “big trips” when we can go together as a family. For example we usually do a big 2 week trip every summer and we always do that with all the kids. (One exception is like spring break – we alter years with their mom for spring break so if Mara and Wes are with their mom those days, we will still take Beckam and Ollie on a spring break trip). If your family typically only goes on 1 or 2 trips a year, I would for sure try to make it work to include everyone. We have so much fun when we travel with all the kids and Beckam and Ollie love being with Mara and Wes as much as we do, so we wish we could always travel together but it doesn’t always work out that way. That’s another thing you realize after you have kids of your own- both parents want as much time as they can with their kids. If it’s a challenge to get additional days or switch schedules for trips, try to have perspective and realize their other parent wants to hang out with them as much as possible too. Not saying it never sucks or their aren’t still disappointed parties, but its kind of an “it is what it is” situation. But honestly it always feels like something is missing when we travel with out them. 

Q. Do they go school 30 minutes away? How does that work?

A. They used to live 10 minutes away from us for like 8 years and recently they moved a couple towns away. I’m so thankful they are still within driving distance because for me growing up, that wasn’t the case, so I’m just grateful we still get to see them so much. But it has definitely made it a little more challenging, especially now that they are in multiple sports, and Mara and Wes are in two different schools (junior high and elementary) they go at different times. Everyone has different practices and schedules after school, so it gets busy but we are glad they are still close.

Q. Are they open to talking about things they do with their mom around you?

A. I feel like they are super open with us, but I guess I wouldn’t actually know how much they are choosing to share. I know as a kid, sometimes I would feel nervous telling the other parent what I was doing when I was with my other parent (even now sometimes, actually haha) because I didn’t want to make the other parent feel bad, so I hope Mara and Wes don’t feel that way but also I guess I can’t know 100% for sure since we aren’t with them 24/7. 

Q. How do you split up firsts or special times with their mom and you guys?

We haven’t had a lot of firsts where we can’t both show up somewhere to support them. For their first time to Disney, we did ask the kids’ mom if we could take them but other than that, there haven’t been a lot of times when we need to split up firsts.  

Q. How do you guys handle holidays/birthdays? 

It’s kind of changed over the years. We always split Christmas – I know thats not as popular. I think a lot of people do every other Christmas. Thanksgiving and Spring Break we alternate every year. Sometimes Easter falls over Spring Break, etc. Birthdays have changed – sometimes we alternate years and sometimes we stick to the schedule. When they were younger, one person would get them the night before and half of their birthday, and then the other would get the other half of the day and the night. At first I think everyone was hypersensitive and micromanaging time and things have relaxed since then. I would get in the mentality of trying to make sure everything was ‘fair’. But in a blended family, it’s impossible to make everything 100% fair.

We would also have traditions that we do every year with the kids, like carving pumpkins and decorating gingerbread houses. And we’ll wait to do those traditions until we have Mara and Wes with us so we can do it all together as a family. I think it makes the holidays feel more special and we’re even more intentional about our time together during those times.

SUPPORT:

Q. Do you feel you need to know other bonus moms for support? I don’t have anyone in my life.

A. I know like one or two other bonus moms but now that I’m thinking about it I don’t know if I’ve ever really talked to them a ton about it. My step mom is and I’ve talked to her of course 🙂 We have 2 step dads within our extended family, but otherwise I feel like my physical circle of bonus moms is pretty small. If you’re joining an online group of other blended families, I would look for one that’s goal is a positive family environment – there are so many that can become super negative and that energy will just detract. But I think bonus moms can be a great support for each other. 

DISCIPLINE/PARENTING FOR BLENDED FAMILIES:

Q. Did you do any discipline when they were younger? 

A. Yes, but nothing major.

Q. How do you not step on any toes/do you feel like you can discipline them? Do you ever put boundaries or is it Cody’s ‘job’?

A. I never want Mara and Wes to feel like they get treated differently, so we try to say consistent through everything and that includes with disciplining and rules. For example: If they make a mess in the living room with Beckam, I wouldn’t only make Beckam clean it. And if they don’t listen, which they are kids and sometimes they don’t haha, they will get a different chore. But I do that exact thing for all the kids. 

There are 10000% times I will say to Cody though, will you be the enforcer this time, I don’t want them to hate me.  And sometimes he will, and other times he’s like you are still a mom to them, they love you and it’s ok for them to have consequences. I think he gages my mood haha. I’ve been in their life over 10 years, and know they love me, but sometimes still worry “what if they think I’m the evil step mom!” So I think you gage what feels most natural and comfortable for you.

Q. Do you give your bonus kids chores?

A. 100%, but all of the kids have weekly chores (– one thing Cody and I both feel strongly about is teaching our kids work ethic, so that goes for all the kids obviously). For us it just wouldn’t make sense if only Beckam and Ollie were doing weekly chores and Mara and Wes just sat on the couch. We are a family and we all have responsibilities.

Do I ever feel guilty about it?  There are some times when it’s the last hour or two before Mara and Wes go back to their mom’s house and Cody tells them they need to clean up a mess and pick up the room, and I tell him they only have 1 hour left and to let them just have fun. He says no, they are still our kids they need take care of their responsibilities, which is really what we would do with Beckam and Ollie. So the times when I am a little more lax about chores or picking up after themselves is before they leave, but during the regular day to day, they do the same things my kids do. (And Cody is really good about being consistent no matter the circumstances.)

Ok that wraps up this post! A lot of you have questions or advice about dealing with biological moms or establishing a bond with your bonus babies – I’m really want to be an open book and share as much as I can, so I’ll save that for the next few posts, including tips for bonus moms and tips for bio moms since I got a few questions from you guys too ❤️ I’ve loved hearing from you all about your own blended families and how much you love your bonus babies!

XX, Christine

 

If you have ended up in this corner of the internet, you have probably received some recent spam pictures for Instagram. Don’t worry, though. This is a common occurrence among users, and we’re here to help you solve your spam issues and you can visit surfarama.com to know Instagram better.

Before we tell you all about how to stop picture spam on Instagram (hey, that rhymed!), we’re going to make you a spam pro. We’ll discuss the tell-tale signs of fake accounts, tell you all about the Finsta phenomenon and discuss ways to keep spamming as far away from your account as possible. By the time you’re done with this article, you’ll be able to spot fake accounts and bots from miles away, almost as if you have X-ray vision.

Let’s start by talking about what picture spam is and why people do it. Strap in and enjoy the ride!

What is Picture Spam, and Why Do People Do It?

Suppose you have read any of our other articles on the subject of spam, like our spam comments on Instagram piece and the guide on how to remove fake followers on Instagram. In that case, you know that spammers are an extremely common occurrence on social media platforms. Applications like Insta try to do some damage control, but bots and the people who create them continue to find new and original ways to invade your privacy.

One of those ways is through spam pictures. If you have already followed our guide on spam comments, disabled commenting, or selected custom keywords for Instagram to detect and still receive spam in the form of pictures, there is a reason. Spam photos are a spamming technique where a spam message is delivered in the form of a picture. These unsolicited messages attempt to circumvent spam filters designed to spot specific keywords. An Instagram user can easily read an image, whereas the Instagram anti-spam system can’t.

So why do people do it? Teens create a surprising amount of fake accounts (also called Finstas, a wordplay on “fake” and “insta”). Ever since Instagram introduced a feature that allows users to link different accounts to one main profile, finstas boomed. The secondary account is sometimes created for a particular inner circle of friends, where teens can share pictures and inappropriate posts and keep content away from their parents. Sometimes, Finstas are used for stalking, but most often, it’s an account made explicitly for bullying or spam.

Other types of picture spam can occur when people use the same password for their Instagram account and other social media profiles and get hacked. A hacker can start using your personal account to spam others. You might not even notice it at first. Suddenly, you have posted a picture on your feed inviting someone to a fake Ray-Ban website with a supposed huge discount (yes, this is a true story). 

You might have even spammed your friends’ comment sections or sent a few spam messages asking them to subscribe to a questionable service. Or perhaps you have been the one receiving the spam pictures? Or maybe that photo you just got is so convincing, you’re not even sure if it’s spam. Spammers tend to navigate to your profile from popular hashtags. They start spamming once they notice you’re interested in makeup or shoes.  If this is something that has happened to you, it’s time we talk about how to recognize a fake account on Instagram.

How To Recognize a Fake Account on Instagram?

Once you know what obvious red flags to look for, you’ll be able to spot Finstas, spammers, and phishing from miles ahead. Here are a few suspicious signs to help root out the fakers:

• The Incredibly Generic Bio – Once you tap on the spam account to check their bio, you know something’s off. Your grandma could have written a better bio.
• The Tumbleweed of Posts – Noticing very few posts? While some people just end up not using Instagram, a post or two with suspiciously random photos and overused filters just scream, “report me!”
• A Follower of Many, With Followers None – What’s that? The user is following too many accounts but barely has anyone following them. That’s not what a real person would do if they were using the app properly.
• Recent Account – Some spam accounts are very recent. Check their posts, and if they haven’t been around for long, they must have been created purely for Instagram spam.
• The Unpronounceable Username – If their username looks like complete gibberish or includes many numbers or strange symbols, you can be certain you’re dealing with a fake account. 
• Irrelevant Comments – Spammers get spam comments too! Usually by their victims in the comment section, as a sign for future targets. If you check their comments section and notice many Instagram accounts saying this one is fake, you should definitely report and block them.

Speaking of reporting and blocking, let’s show you how to get the juicy revenge you have been waiting for all along!

How Do I Report and Block a Profile on Instagram?

How To Block Spammers

Step 1: Open Instagram.

Step 2: Go to the spam Instagram profile through the last spam message they sent you, or alternatively search their username in the search tab.

Step 3: Tap the three dots right next to their username.

Step 4: Select “Block”.

Step 5: You can choose to “Block [username] and new accounts they create” or Simply Block them. 

How To Report Spammers

Step 1: Open Instagram.

Step 2: Go to the Instagram spam profile through your messages list, or search their name in the search tab.

Step 3: Tap the three dots next to their username.

Step 4: Press on “Report”

Step 5: Then choose between “Report account” or “Report post, message, and comment,” depending on your preference.

How to Get Better Protection For Your Account

If you feel you have been bombarded by spam messages and spam comments lately, you might need better protection on your profile, especially if you have tried blocking, reporting, and restricting profiles. A helpful tool you can use that we wholeheartedly recommend is SpamGuard. 

Spam Guard protects and cleans your Instagram account in a few simple steps. You can use it straight from your browser. All you need to do is type in your Instagram handle and start their free analysis. It will show you the number of spam and inactive accounts that have currently connected with your account in some way (through comments, notifications, etc.).

Spam guard will help you block and delete these unwanted accounts without having to go through them manually. It will save you time and provide the necessary privacy and protection you deserve! Just follow the link and start your safe social media journey!

Before You Head Out

We hope our guide on spam pictures for Instagram has helped you, and you now know how to report and block annoying users. If you have been struggling with other types of spam activity, you might be interested in some of our other guides that help solve similar issues.

You might like our Spam comments on the Instagram guide, or if you have a Twitter, check out our “How to Remove Followers on Twitter” article.

I wish you safe browsing!

Every email you send and every update that goes live is an opportunity — and that includes the opportunity to generate revenue.

You’ve carved out your space on the world wide web and built a community of like-minded people interested in reading what you provide. You also created an email list from that community and started to grow your audience with a new way to receive and engage with your content.

Now picture this: Sending campaigns to your email list and automatically earning revenue without directly selling any goods or services.

It may sound too good to be true, but that’s precisely what happens when you choose to host ads in your emails:

You create a passive income stream from the content you’re already sending out to your subscribers.

The purpose of this guide is to offer considerable insight into email ads. Specifically, the ads provided through the FeedBlitz integrated ad network. It will also help debunk any myths, address any hesitations you may have, and offer a glimpse into the actual earning potential available to you.

Here’s what we’re going to cover in this guide:

1. Are email ads right for me?
2. Two ways you can earn revenue from ads in your emails.
3. The FAQs of ad sizes, placements, and types.
4. Pulling back the curtain: The 2021 ad revenue of three FeedBlitz clients.
5. Case studies: How monitoring and making adjustments to your program can increase earning potential.

*Our team has covered a lot of ground for you, but reach out if you’re left with any questions. We’re happy to help.

Settle in, and let’s get started. It’s time to learn about your truly unlimited earning potential.

1. Are email ads right for me?

We start by asking this one question for anyone curious about getting started with email ads:

Are you currently running ads on your site?

If your site is currently hosting ads, it’s a simple, seamless transition to start incorporating them into your email content. Your audience has already become accustomed to seeing them on your site. Your emails also offer additional, coveted ad space and an opportunity to generate revenue.

Monetizing one without the other means you may be leaving revenue opportunities on the table.

If you are not yet running ads on your site, this does not mean you shouldn’t run ads in your emails. If you plan to run ads on your site but don’t meet traffic minimums to join a premium ad network, you can run this process in reverse. Running ads in your emails can prepare your audience for the appearance of ads on your website. The FeedBlitz integrated ad network has no traffic or list size minimums.

2. Two ways you can earn money from ads in your emails.

Monetizing your emails doesn’t require a massive mailing list or sending content within a specific niche. Creating a revenue stream from the emails, you’re already sending may be easier than you imagine.

Earning revenue is an opportunity available to anyone sending email campaigns. When focusing your email monetization efforts on working with ads, the two most common tactics are:

1. Selling space in your email and manually inserting ads. This method relies on sponsorships, partnerships and affiliate relationships you create and offers a variety of possibilities as it could cover images, logos, videos, or text.

However, selling space requires substantial work to establish relationships and agreements, including creating a media kit, gathering your site and email history data, securing multiple agreements across platforms, etc.

2. Ads that are inserted automatically into your emails through an integration with an online ad service. This automated option allows an ad network that you sign up for or that is integrated with your email service provider (ESP) to supply and place ads in designated space(s) of your campaigns.

Many email marketers often incorporate both types of ads in their emails or switch between them for different campaigns. (Important note: FeedBlitz does allow for both in the same email. There is no exclusivity clause that would create a conflict with this!) This is an excellent way to diversify your income through email advertising.

If you’re new to working with ads or prefer a more hands-off approach, working with an ad network is a great option to test the waters—especially if your ESP is directly integrated with an ad network.

At FeedBlitz, we offer a one-click advertising option to all clients. With one click of the mouse, you can turn ads on in your account, starting with your next email campaign—without the extra work of selling the space yourself.

And unlike many standalone ad networks, there are no scripts, tags, markups, pre-approval processes, or minimum traffic counts to meet before you can begin generating a passive income from your emails. Essentially, zero barriers for you to overcome or hoops to jump through just to get started.

3. The FAQs of email ad sizes, placements, and types.

Thinking about introducing ads to your email campaigns can spark many questions…

How many ads?? Where would they go? What would they look like?!?

And that’s understandable! This section will break down some of the most common questions about ad placement, content, and more.

• Ads are available in three sizes: marquee, banner, and square. The variety of sizing allows for optimal flexibility in the placement and frequency of the ads in your mailings.

  Yes, one size does outperform the others, but we’ll get into more detail by looking at the case studies below.

• Yes, you can start small and ease into slowly adding more units. You can even begin by placing an ad at the bottom of your campaign and then gradually moving it higher or placing a second ad unit. This will help your audience become accustomed to seeing ads in your emails.

  And remember, your audience is already accustomed to seeing ads if you host them on your site, which provides a smooth transition to placing them in your emails.

• Regardless of whether you use automated or single campaigns, you control the number of ads in your emails, the size of your ads, and the placement of ads. Turning ads on in your account does not mean your subscribers will be overwhelmed with ads. You choose the number, the placement, and the size right from the Monetization settings in your account or the template when creating your campaigns.

• All ads are brand-safe. FeedBlitz only allows brand-safe* ads and no politics whatsoever. Regarding the exact ads that show in your emails, it depends mainly on the available ad inventory and the end-user’s anonymized internet activity.

  When setting up your ad program, you do have some influence over the ads shown by choosing your preferred categories. It’s important to remember, however, these selections only provide guidance. They are not the primary determining factor for the exact ads shown.

  *If you ever feel an ad is not up to par or is not brand-safe, our team is always happy to review it to determine if it violates the policies. The ad will be removed from the inventory when warranted.

• You do not have to have ads in every email you send. The flexibility of the ad program is just that—flexible. You can choose when, where, and how ads appear in your mailing and can choose to remove them entirely at any time for a particular campaign or an entire mailing list.

If you have additional questions not covered above, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team is always happy to provide more insight or walk you through placing ads in your campaigns.

4. Pulling back the curtain: The 2021 ad revenue of three FeedBlitz clients.

When talking about ad earnings, it’s one thing to say:

“Our clients typically see ad earnings run between $2 to $3 (USD) per 1,000 opens for US-based readership, depending on real-time ad markets and available inventory.”

(Because they do, that is the general earning rate for ads in emails.) However, it’s far different to show actual numbers of subscriber counts, open rates, and earnings.

As you’ll see below, ad earnings vary greatly and depend significantly on list size, mailing frequency, and open rates. To help you better visualize your earning potential, you’ll find the average monthly ad earnings of three FeedBlitz clients and a summary of their email practices for better context. (Clients are listed as A, B, and C, to protect their privacy, with their average monthly ad earnings listed by quarter.)

Client A is a craft blogger.

They have a total of 2,800 subscribers in one mailing list.

Their monthly fee is $49.

Client A emails daily, with an average open rate of 25%.

Their average monthly ad earnings for 2021 are listed in the table to the right.

Quarter	Average Monthly Earnings
1	$79
2	$88
3	$72
4	$108

Client B is a coupon/deal blogger.

They have has just over 20,000 subscribers in one mailing list.

Their monthly fee is $149.

Client B emails daily, with typical open rates between 30 and 35%.

Quarter	Average Monthly Earnings
1	$290
2	$291
3	$289
4	$347

Client C is a recipe blogger.

They have 280,500 subscribers, split into three mailing lists.

Their monthly fee is $799.

Their main list is emailed daily, and their additional two lists are mailed weekly. Their average open rate is 25% across the three lists.

Quarter	Average Monthly Earnings
1	$3,486
2	$3,375
3	$3,384
4	$4,128

Did you notice that all three of these clients more than covered their FeedBlitz fees with the income generated from the ad program? (In fact, over 70% of participants in the ad program for 2021 earned more than enough to offset their FeedBlitz fees!)

Looking through Clients A, B and C, hopefully, you could identify which client either most closely resembles your current setup or a client you may aspire to match—or surpass.

Earnings not only depend on list size, mailing frequency, and open rates, they can also fluctuate month to month, depending on ad inventory, supply, and demand. Which explains why we always see a bump during the holiday season—November through December—in revenues as retailers tend to flood the market with inventory.

What is most impressive about this method of monetizing your mailings is that it provides unlimited earning potential as it all hinges on your preferences and practices.

5. Case studies: How monitoring and making adjustments to your program can increase earning potential.

Embracing the opportunity that including ads in your emails provides starts with turning on the ads themselves. The next step is to monitor your progress and adjust your approach to optimize that opportunity.

Below you’ll learn about two clients who increased their ad revenue in 2021 by making simple adjustments to their ad placement. Then you will read about a third client who has found great success with the ad program through another popular email marketing tactic.

They’ll be labeled Clients E, F, and G to protect their privacy. You will also see the percentage increases for the first two clients after their change and average monthly earnings for the third client.

Client E is a coupon/deal blogger who emails approximately 57,000 subscribers daily.

• They have an average unique open rate of 29% and generally run three ads per email.
• Our team began working with this client in September 2021. They privately sell the top ad spot in their mailings to sponsors, but this placement doesn’t always have a sponsor.
• After reviewing their program, we suggested turning on the marquee ad at the top of the email option in their ad settings and allowing marquee-style ads within the body of the email. They continued to run three ads per mailing. When they do sell the top ad space, they can easily turn off the top marquee unit.
• This edit yielded a consistent 200% increase in revenue in the following months.

Client F is a performance marketer who emails a total of 1.1 million subscribers, split into many lists, daily.

• They have an average unique open rate of 17% across their lists and were displaying one ad per email.
• After reviewing their program, we suggested a change to their template that would place an additional ad unit.
• This adjustment yielded a consistent 31% increase in revenue in the following months.

Our top recommendation for all clients running ads is to switch your ads to marquee size ad units. (And if you only change the size of one ad, let it be the first shown in your mailings.)

The final client highlights a popular email marketing strategy used to encourage higher open rates and better engagement.

And you guessed it, higher open rates = greater impressions = higher revenues.

Client G is a political blogger who emails 3,000 subscribers split into four mailing lists, mailing at least once a day.

• The average open rate across all four lists is 40%.Their average monthly ad revenue for 2021 was $450, compared to their average monthly fee of $49.
• Client G offers the same content to all four mailing lists, each set to a different mailing schedule. Their subscribers then receive content on a schedule that suits their preferences, encouraging higher open rates and greater engagement.
• While this client’s subscriber numbers are lower than all of the previous examples listed, we wanted to show this client to highlight how mailing frequency and engagement can significantly affect your earning potential.

Your earnings can be easily increased based on small changes to your ad settings. And while not every tweak to your ad settings will guarantee a higher return, if you’re feeling stagnant with ad earnings, we always recommend making an adjustment, monitoring, then adjusting again as needed.

Embracing your unlimited earning potential.

Monetizing your email campaigns with ads is one of the easiest and quickest ways to build a revenue stream that genuinely offers unlimited earning opportunities. And, as you’ve read above, it doesn’t take a giant mailing list to get started or to see results. Especially if you’re already hosting ads on your site, it’s a simple transition to placing ads in your emails.

There’s no reason to leave money on the table. Embrace your opportunities!

Are you interested in giving email ads a try with the FeedBlitz one-click advertising program? Head to this page to start your free trial. Questions? Feel free to reach out with any questions through our Support Page. While live support is available Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern, and you can always find helpful information 24-7 at the resources linked here.

Are you looking for a guide on how to remove all your followers on Instagram? You have come to the right place!

We get it – negotiating who sees your social media posts can be an exhausting experience. Not to mention, after hanging around Instagram for a while, you have probably acquired tons of followers. Many of whom are unknown to you or spam. Sometimes the overwhelm of spammers and bots can lead us to tough decisions, like removing followers. If you have received spam comments on Instagram and tried dealing with it, but the overwhelm of fake accounts keeps bugging you, sometimes starting over is just the best bet.

Even though Instagram offers the Private Account option, sometimes it doesn’t work for everyone. Many Instagram users make a living out of Instagram, and closing their accounts to the public just isn’t a viable option. But can you mass delete followers on Insta? The answer is yes, and we’ll show you how to do it in a few easy steps.

But before we talk about how to delete all followers on Instagram, you’re probably wondering: “Why would anyone want to delete followers?” and “What happens when you remove followers?” Don’t worry. We’ll answer all your questions below.

Why Delete All Followers on Instagram?

Instagram’s main point is acquiring a large audience and keeping it engaged. So why would anyone want to delete followers, let alone ALL their followers?

The answer is, sometimes the overwhelming amount of bots, inactive followers, ghost accounts, and fake accounts is too much. None of them contribute to your organic audience engagement. In some cases, it’s easier to start over. You can always inform your authentic audience of this change and ask them to follow you back, but you can never ask inactive accounts to unfollow you. Removing Instagram followers and starting over will give you a realistic follower count as well.

If you have already tried dealing with spam comments or pictures on Instagram and are still being targeted by fake accounts, starting over can help. You’ll also be better prepared to deal with them.

Not many people have the time to go through their followers’ lists and delete the inactive accounts individually. It’s time-consuming, and there’s a more convenient option. Of course, we will explain how to manually delete followers for those of you looking to do things the hard way, but we have a more efficient method to offer you. By now, I guess you’re wondering what happens when you remove a follower, so let’s talk a bit about that.

What Happens When You Remove a Follower On Instagram?

You might be worried about the amount of backlash you could face for mass deleting your followers. Do they get notified? What if people notice and think it’s personal? Can they even follow your account back?

Relax. Removing followers is an easy, drama-free experience. Your ex-followers will have no idea they have been banished from your account and won’t get notified of it. This is excellent news for those of you that want to say goodbye to spambots and ghost followers (and curious parents). You can always inform your real followers of this upcoming change and invite them back to your account once your Instagram cleanse is over! You can even make a fun game out of it!

The only way for anyone to notice they have forcefully unfollowed you is to go back and check on your account. They’ll be able to notice the active Follow button. I seriously doubt any bots will put energy into tracking you down specifically, and if they do, you can instantly block their accounts. So yes, people can follow you back once you have removed them from your followers’ list. Don’t worry. There are many ways to keep the fakes at bay, and you can learn more about that in our Instagram spam block article. And now, let’s talk about how to remove followers on Instagram all at once.

How to Remove All Followers on Instagram?

As of 2018, Instagram finally included the “Remove follower” function. This is different from the existing “Block follower” function. It’s a bit more subtle and less aggressive than blocking. If you’re looking to remove your followers one by one manually, I’d make a pot of tea, turn on some lo-fi music, and dedicate the day to it.

Method 1 – Manually Removing Followers

Step 1: Head over to your Profile. by pressing your profile icon.

Step 2: Press on Followers to view your followers’ list located on your profile.

Step 3: Scroll through the list of followers or use the search bar to find specific profiles.

Step 4: To remove people, press the three dots on the side of their username.

Step 5: You’ll be prompted by a pop-up saying: “Remove follower? Instagram won’t tell [insert follower username] they were removed from your followers.”

Step 6: Press Remove to confirm.

Step 7: Repeat these steps for the rest of your Instagram followers.

Method 2 – Use Third-Party Apps

Okаy I’ll tell you a secret that I have been shamefully keeping from you up until now. Instagram doesn’t actually have a mass delete feature. It’s crazy, I know! I suppose they weren’t expecting anyone would ever get to a point when they need it. So what happens when you want to delete ALL followers and keep your public account active? You use a third-party application. There are many applications out there to help, but one we vouch for is Spam Guard.

Spam Guard is an online service that will help clean your account from bot activity. Spam Guard is your two-in-one app, taking care of housekeeping while ensuring your account is protected. It’s a highly effective app cleaner, working twice as fast compared to other apps. It will take care of spam accounts, unmutual follows, and unwanted comments. You can block followers and remove Instagram profiles from your audience. One of its best functions is the “White List,” which allows you to select followers you don’t want to remove and get rid of the rest. You can mass delete followers with a single click – isn’t that great!

To use Spam Guard, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Go to Spam Guard.

Step 2: Type in your Instagram username.

Step 3: Choose between Scan and Cleaning, Real-Time Protection, or Protection Report.

Step 4: Add your email to join Spam Guard’s services.

Step 5: In Protection Report, Spam Guard will remove all unwanted followers on Instagram.

Method 3 – Switch To Private For A Spell

Finally, if you’re looking for another method to help remove followers without using a third-party app, you can switch to a private account. To do that, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Go to “Settings” on your profile.

Step 2: Select: “Privacy”.

Step 3: Find “Private Account” in the list.

Step 4: Press on the switch and confirm your choice!

Step 5: Go back to your list of followers and delete people you no longer wish to follow you.

Before You Go

Congratulations! You have completed our Mass Delete Instruction Guide and are officially ready to get back on the Instagram platform free from annoying followers. How does it feel to have a sparkly clean account? Let us know in the comment section below! I wish you happy scrolling, and I’ll catch you again soon!

Hi guys! I don’t know about you, but I am SO ready for spring! I’ve been posting some of my recent spring finds and what I’ve ordered and wanted to share last months most loved aka best-sellers. From travel favorites, swimwear, home organization, and everyday basics here is a roundup of February’s top 10.

DETAILS: GREY SWEATPANTS | GREEN OVERSIZED SWEATER | | RIBBED BLACK BIKINI | FRUIT/VEGGIE DRAWERS | TAN AIR JORDANS | AFFIRMATIONS WALL ART | SCOOTER LUGGAGE | LEVI DENIM JEANS | BLACK CROP TOP SET | ANNIE BING SWEATSHIRT

1. GREY SWEATPANTS (under $30 – size M)

My favorite sweatpants that have carried from winter into spring! They are under $30 and I have them in multiple colors. I sized up to medium for a slightly looser fit. These sweats have been a best-seller month after month!

2. AFFIRMATIONS WALL ART (under $10)

Recently purchased this affirmations wall art from Etsy for our office and I love it! I’m super into green right now and love how it adds a subtle pop of color to our mostly neutral office decor. I’m so glad it’s been a best-seller and you guys loved it so much too. It was under $10 and I bought the digital version and had it printed out, so simple!

3. BLACK BIKINI (under $30 – size S)

Recently got this black bikini for our Mexico trip and love it so much, I also have it in brown. The top has an underwire so it has good support and love the one shoulder detail. It’s under $30 and I’m wearing the size small here.

4. FRUIT/VEGGIE DRAWERS (set of 2 under $40)

At the start of the new year one of my goals was to organize our fridge so I found these clear fridge drawers to store washed fruits and veggies so the kids could have some healthier snack options available. A set of two is under $40 and so easy to install it takes like 15 seconds!

5. BLACK CROP TOP SET (under $25 – size S)

This black tie top comes in a set with matching shorts for under $25 and I love how y0u can mix and match the pieces. I wore the top with jeans on our trip to Hawaii – it’s super comfy and I’m wearing the size small here. I’ll definitely be wearing it a ton this summer!

6.  SCOOTER LUGGAGE

These scooter suitcases were such a good find! They keep the kids entertained at the airport if we have a long layover and help make the whole traveling process more fun for them. The suitcase part can attach and detach from the scooter wheel base and can even fold down into regular wheeler suitcase. It’s definitely a splurge but I love how the kids can use the scooter part alone too when we’re back home.

7. GREEN OVERSIZED SWEATER (under $30 – size L)

This sweater has been an all time favorite and best-seller, I’ve shared the white version of this oversized sweater a ton and wanted to get a new color of it for spring. I love this green color so much! I’m wearing size large here – it’s super cute with jeans and plan on wearing it with denim shorts too when summer rolls around. It comes in a ton of other colors too and I recently ordered the blue.

8. LEVI DENIM JEANS (on sale for under $100 – size 26)

Sale alert! I wear these Levi jeans all the time and right now they are currently on sale for under $100. I love the looser fit and bluer wash and are super comfy for everyday wear. I sized up and purchased the 26 in these but if you don’t want as loose of a fit I would go with your regular size.

9. TAN AIR JORDANS

I’m obsessed with these neutral Air Jordans. I wear them with loungewear and dressier outfits – they look cute with so many outfits! Definitely one of my favorite purchases from this year.

10. ANNIE BING SWEATSHIRT

I thought this graphic sweatshirt was so cute when I saw it, I’ll wear it with jeans or over workout sets to go run errands – it’s super cozy! If you want a more oversized fit I would order a couple sizes up (wearing size small here.)

Which February best-seller was your favorite?

xx, Christine