style Archives - Nesting Story

5 Summer Hairstyles Moms Need To Try

If you are anything like me, having your hair down sounds nice in theory, but about 5 minutes in you are ready to put it up. I am running around all day, with a baby who LOVES to pull anything within his reach (e.g. my hair) and I can’t stand having things in my face. It drives me nuts. Especially with the warmer days upon us, the last thing you want is a full head of hair on your neck and falling into you face.

I used to just end up wearing my hair in either the mom bun (you know the one you threw up without a mirror with an elastic band you found in the couch cushions) or a basic ponytail. Neither of these hairstyles made me feel I had fully put myself together that day.

So, instead of a basic ponytail, here are 5 easy to do summer hairstyles you can rock this summer and still feel put together!

I love doing the wrapped ponytail because it’s so easy to do but looks so professional. It’s one of those summer hairstyles that will have people wondering how you did it yourself! Just take your pieces and wrap it around the ponytail and pin it with a Bobby pin. All you need is a hair elastic, some Bobby pins, and a little bit of hairspray to smooth the fly aways if you want.

This hairstyle is a little more complex, but can be quick once you are comfortable with it! I feel like a braid can make any style look more intricate. If you’re like me and are going through the wonderful postpartum hair loss (peep the bald spots in the photos) you can hide your sparse areas with some eyeshadow that matches your hair colour! Just fluff some into the spots with a makeup brush and set it with some hairspray. All you need for this style are 2 elastics and Bobby pins. This look can be done with straight or curly hair.

This style is my favourite for days when I need to look really put together but my hair isn’t washed and I’m too tired to do anything about it! All it takes is an elastic, a few bobby pins, and 5 minutes. Once you’ve mastered this style, you can even do it without a mirror!

This hairstyle is going to my go-to for the summer months, I can already tell. It’s quick, looks best when it’s done messily, and it keeps all my postpartum hair regrowth tucked away and in place! All you need are 3 elastics, some bobby pins if you have shorter pieces that need to be kept in place, and you can wear this style with any hair texture!

The low ponytail is, hands down, the one I do the most. For a sleek look you can leave your ponytail straight, or for a more beachy feel, curl your hair from root to end and leave some texture at the roots. All you need for this hairstyle is a hair elastic, Bobby pins, and a comb to tease your ends.

Getting through the summer heat shouldn’t mean sacrificing your good looks! These summer hairstyles will keep you feeling cool and looking great!

If you want to learn more quick beauty tips that you can add to your everyday routine, check out www.elysemorency.com. You can also find Elyse on Instagram at www.instagram.com/elysemor/ where she talks about the highs and lows of motherhood and makeup!

A DIY, New-Mom, No-Money, No-Time Home Tour

The day my husband and I moved out of the city and into our new suburban home was a very big day for us. Yes, moving is a huge undertaking, but it’s also the day I found out I was pregnant with my first (and only to date) child.

When I bought the house I had many grand ambitions for design and renovations for this square white box of a cookie cutter home. I now look back at those ambitions and laugh at myself for how far off I really was. With crippling morning sickness right up till the day I delivered (lucky me), and every other fun thing about pregnancy that slows you down, I would have been thrilled to even get paint on the walls. Spoiler alert: we did not accomplish that.

My little girl is now nearing 2 and though we are still stuck with that horrible quality builder’s paint. With the purchase of a few key design pieces, and a lot of Annie’s chalk paint for furniture, I am confident to say “yup, an interior designer lives here”.

Let’s walk through my “DIY-new-mom-no-time-no-money” home:

Family Room:

A DIY, New-Mom, No-Money, No-Time Home Tour

· Never underestimate the power of plants. They bring much undervalued life to a room.

· DIY floating shelves and some décor go a long way. (Literally we used old beer jugs, a couple picture frames and plants. No need to reinvent the wheel here.)

· Drapery! Even if you don’t need them for privacy, side panels make a huge impact on the overall look of a room.

· Furniture acting as storage to hide the many toddler toys is an easy way to feel human when baby goes to bed.

I can’t say my couches are high design, but hey they were 50% off at The Brick and seem to hide toddler spills pretty well, so they will do for now. To counteract this white box and uninspired furniture I rely heavily on décor items to do the work for me.

Kitchen – Before and After:

A white kitchen is not going out of style anytime soon, but never trade that look for personality. White cabinets can be a slippery slope to a very bland space. Make sure to accent the plain white cabinets with the warmth of wood and other natural materials.

Bland white kitchen BEFORE DIY design — Before

· Taking out the under cabinet range (and cabinet) and replacing it with a chimney style vent makes a HUGE impact, for as little as $300.

· Don’t be afraid to go bold with a kitchen backsplash. This 2’x2’ slate tile packs quite the punch and really makes the space what it is.

Dining Room:

A large dining room needs statement furniture to appropriately fill the space. We had none, and only a small budget for it. Thanks to the Habitat for Humanity Restore and Homesense we furnished this whole space for around $1500.

using plants/ side panels to design an entertaining space

DIY dining table design that looks more expensive than it really was

· We were lucky to find this dining room table TOP only on clearance for $100. Nobody was buying it because it had no legs. After a very easy leg purchase online we now have a statement dining room table that would sell for $3000+, which we spent $300 on.

· Hutch and coffee table were dated, orangey pieces found at the Restore. With a couple coats of white chalk paint and new hardware they work in just about any space.

· Don’t forget the plants/ drapery side panels and you have yourself a space to entertain in.

Master Bedroom:

This master bedroom is such a painfully square and boring room. With grand ambitions to one day put in hardwood flooring and do a wood statement wall, a rug and some décor items are doing the trick for now.

· A plush rug takes your eye away from the builders grade carpet.

· Move the eyes upand away from the plain wallswith decor. A headboard, wall art, lamps, plants etc.

· End tables are refinished logs with legs bought on Etsy.

· Makeup vanity, chair and mirror were all literally found on the side of the road. HELLO spray-paint and new hardware!

I’m not suggesting that décor items are cheap, but I am suggesting that they are cheaper than a full blown renovation when you’re not ready. It’s always nice to dream of your perfect home, but until time and budget fill that dream there is plenty you can do to make your home design an inviting space that you are proud of.

Lara Young is the Principal of Lara Young Design, and also a new mom. Like many of us Lara is trying to find that quintessential work/life balance. Being her own boss is bringing Lara one-step closer to her dream. You can read Lara’s full bio, or contact her to help with your next design project here.

Spring outfits you will love – Spring wardrobe style guide

A couple times a year I overhaul my wardrobe. I start by thinking, “what is my style this season? Who do I want to be and what is my style going to look like this spring?” Then I gather inspirational style photos and begin planning out my new looks.

Here’s the thing, I am a 5’2″ thirty-five-year-old mom of four. So A. I am not always on top of the hot new trends, and B. I’m not sure if the hot new trends would suit my body type, or my age. So, I make sure that my style reflects my personal taste (feminine, cool and slightly bohemian) and suits my lifestyle (a self-employed woman who has often has events and meetings to attend, slightly athletic and a busy mom).

Oh, did I mention I’m also on a budget? Most of these looks are very budget friendly with a timeless, worth-the-higher-price piece thrown in here and there.

Although I’m a shortie with a busload of kids, that doesn’t mean these looks wouldn’t suit everyone. Younger, older, kid-free, taller, you name it!

This post contains affiliate links.

I just discovered kimonos and I’m in love! Where have they been all my life? I love this look because it’s cool, fresh and comfy.

Shop the look: Kimono – Forever 21, White gathered T-shirt – Zara, Jeans – (similar) American Eagle, Sandals – Billabong , Sunglasses – Ray-Ban -Aviators, Necklace – H&M, Rings – Aldo

So my one of my three-year-old twin daughters and I have a thing for pjs and sweatpants. Seriously, I walk in my home after a day at an event in the city and the first thing I do is put on baggy sweats. So when I found a pair of dressy joggers that I could wear to events, I fell in love.

Shop the look: Pants – Dynamite, Tank top – Dynamite, Shoes – Le Chateau, Necklace – H&M, Watch – H&M, Rings – Aldo, Sunglasses – Michael Kors,

I recently took up running again and have been loving it. I thought I could be a long-distance runner, but soon realized I hit my limit at around 2km. But that still makes me a runner, right? Regardless of how far I run, I quickly realized that I needed a running jacket that could take me through our crazy Canadian spring weather. After looking everywhere I finally found this jacket which was perfect…plus it’s pink which is my favourite!

Shop the look: Running jacket – Nike, Running shoes – Asics, Sunglasses – Ray-Ban Aviators, Leggings – (similar) Lululemon, Sweatshirt – Gap

I bought a couple form-fitting skirts a couple years back and never ended up wearing them. I finally decided that they needed to be paired with a breezy long jacket. When I found this one I knew it was the perfect match!

Shop the look: Jacket – Le Chateau, Watch H&M

I had been looking for over a year for a cardigan that I loved. I finally found it and I have been wearing it constantly.

Shop the look: Cardigan – American Eagle, Watch – H&M, Rings – Aldo, T-shirt – Zara, Sunglasses – Ray-Ban Aviators, Bracelet – H&M, Necklace – H&M,

I am speaking at an upcoming conference and I knew that I needed a fashionable, but “take me seriously” kind of outfit. When I saw these dressy joggers and a sleeveless blouse, I was sure that I had found my power outfit.

Shop the look: Shoes – Le Chateau, Pants – Dynamite, Top – Forever 21, Watch – H&M, Sunglasses – Michael Kors

I have found myself moving further away from the more structured blazers and embracing flowy tops instead. This blazer is a more relaxed style which is still professional, but a little less “can I sell you life insurance?”

Shop the look: Jeans – Gap, T shirt – Zara, Bag – H&M, Sandals – Le Chateau, Floral blazer – Forever 21, Sunglasses – Michael Kors, Watch – H&M

My absolute favourite place to buy dresses is BCBG. This one is is so comfy and pretty!

Shop this look: Dress – BCBG

So, how exactly do I approach my seasonal wardrobe switchover? Watch as I gather inspiration, pull items from my wardrobe that I already have and put my new wardrobe together, all on a budget. I use this method at least twice a year, which helps me save money because I am not mindlessly shopping all year round.

Part one…

Part two…

For more style inspiration, check out my Instagram and subscribe to my YouTube channel.

How To Style Patterned Leggings For You And Your Kids (Four Looks)

A little over a year ago I went to my first SweetLegs leggings party, which changed my life. No, seriously, I love leggings, like most moms do. Partly because I can pull them up over my mommy tummy. After four kids, including a C-section with twins, anything high-waisted is a friend of mine. But fun patterns have taken my leggings game to the next level.

I think, like many of us, I love the colourful look of patterned leggings, but have thought, “how the heck to I style these?” Last year I styled three pairs of SweetLegs leggings, and even pulled off a dressy patterned leggings look. They were a hit!

Well, I am pleased to say that SweetLegs has now added children’s sizes to their collection which meant that I had a new challenge on my hands: how do I style patterned leggings for my kids and I? Here are four adorable looks that I think you are going to absolutely fall in love with.

All leggings were provided by SweetLegs.ca. I styled each look myself. This post has not been sponsored by any other brand.

Fresh and Formal

What we are wearing (above)
Leggings: SweetLegs (pattern Mondo Bongo), My top: Winners, All three girl’s tops: Gap Kids, All accessories: Ardene, My shoes: Le Chateau

Earthy

What we are wearing (above)
Leggings: SweetLegs (pattern Adelaide), My top: Winners, All three girl’s tops: Gap Kids, All accessories: Ardene

Edgy and Cool

What we are wearing (above)
Leggings: SweetLegs (pattern Black Opal), My tank top: Winners, My vest: American Eagle, Beau’s tank top and vest: gap Kids, Mia and Everly’s t-shirts and vests: Children’s Place, Mia and Beau’s sunglasses: Children’s Place, Everly’s sunglasses: Gap Kids

Bohemian and Airy

What we are wearing (above)
Leggings: SweetLegs (pattern Spring Fever), My top: American Eagle, All three girl’s tops: Gap Kids, Beau’s flower crown: Ardene

Thank you to SweetLegs for providing these fun leggings for our family. Head to sweetLegs.ca to place your order.

Don’t forget to follow Nesting Story on Facebook and Instagram for additional articles and photos. Also, remember to subscribe so that you don’t miss a post!