Mark your calendars – 3.1 Phillip Lim is coming to Target on September 15th!

Another Target and designer Phillip Lim are teaming up to put together a 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target collection to be released September 15th!

The collection is for Fall and is comprised of a mostly neutral palette with a few items in bold prints.  There are 100 pieces ranging from $19.99 to $299.99 for apparel and $19.99 to $59.99 for accessories.  The collection includes apparel for men and women, shoes, bags and travel gear.

I just saw the first ad for the collection and it looks like a mini Pashli-like satchel might be coming our way!  This one is priced at $34.99.  I’m *sure* this is one of those items that will sell out instantly.  There is also a larger tote that is similar in silhouette to the Pashli as well, priced at $54.99.

3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli ($895)
3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli ($895) – Gorgeous details and materials
3.1 Phillip Lim for Target Tote ($54.99)
3.1 Phillip Lim for Target Tote ($54.99) – A familiar silhouette!
3.1 Phillip Lim for Target ad - Mini Pashli-like satchel
3.1 Phillip Lim for Target ad – Featuring a mini Pashli-like satchel

Here’s a few selections from the lookbook that I will definitely be checking out as well.

3.1 Phillip Lim for Target - Look No 7
3.1 Phillip Lim for Target – Look No 7 – Love the entire look!
3.1 Phillip Lim for Target - Mini Satchel in Black ($34.99)
3.1 Phillip Lim for Target – Mini Satchel in Black ($34.99)
3.1 Phillip Lim for Target - Mini Satchel in Gold ($34.99)
3.1 Phillip Lim for Target – Mini Satchel in Gold ($34.99)
3.1 Phillip Lim for Target - Look No 2 Sequin Dress ($74.99)
3.1 Phillip Lim for Target – Look No 2 Sequin Dress ($74.99)
3.1 Phillip Lim for Target - Tote Bag ($54.99)
3.1 Phillip Lim for Target – Tote Bag ($54.99)

Here is the complete 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target lookbook!

3.1 Phillip Lim for Target - Complete Lookbook

3.1 Phillip Lim for Target - Complete Lookbook

3.1 Phillip Lim for Target - Complete Lookbook

3.1 Phillip Lim for Target - Complete Lookbook

3.1 Phillip Lim for Target - Complete Lookbook

3.1 Phillip Lim for Target - Complete Lookbook

 

Are you a 3.1 Phillip Lim fan?  What do you have your eye on for this collaboration?

Gap Friends & Family Sale

It’s time for the semi-annual Gap Friends & Family sale!  Everything on the website is 35% off and everything in store is 30% off with code GAPFRIENDS.  If you are lucky enough to have received an invite with a unique code, you can get 40% off both online and in store.  However, my understanding is that those codes were given to employees to hand out personally.

Sale ends on Sunday, August 11th.  There is free shipping for orders over $50 and free returns if anything doesn’t work out!

I think I might be all shopped out for myself after the Nordstrom Anniversary sale, but my little girl is growing out of all of her 6 and 9 month clothes, so she’ll need some new things for the Fall.  🙂  Here are a few of the items I’m thinking about ordering!

Bow Print pleat body double (Sale: $12.97 after coupon)

How cute is this bow print onesie?!  I also love that it looks like a regular shirt rather than a onesie that is tucked in.  I like having my little one’s tummy covered so these are perfect.

Bow Cuff Leggings (Sale: $8.42 after coupon)

I don’t like putting my baby in real jeans yet, so I love the look of leggings and jeggings.  These are made a little more special by the cute bow at the bottom.

Owl Print Shirred Top (Sale: $16.22 after coupon)

I love the whimsical owl print on this top!  The sleeves are also cute with a bit of shirring and a seam at the elbow to make them almost like a bell sleeve.

Will you be shopping the Gap F&F sale?  What are your picks?

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe

I hope you had a great weekend! Over the weekend, I had the chance to do a bunch of cooking, baking and crafting!

One of the things we made was a banana bread loaf with some bananas that were overripe.  The banana bread turned out great, so I wanted to share the recipe we used.  I’m a novice baker so this was pretty fool proof!

Yum Yum Banana Bread!
Yum Yum Banana Bread!

This is adapted from a recipe I found on the Food Network.  Original recipe is here.

Ingredients
1 cup granulated sugar
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 large eggs, room temperature
3 ripe bananas
1 tablespoon buttermilk
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

Directions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan with parchment paper and spray the ends with butter/cooking spray.

Cream the sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

In a small bowl, mash the bananas with a fork. Mix in the buttermilk and cinnamon. In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Add the banana mixture to the creamed mixture and stir until combined. Add dry ingredients, mixing just until flour disappears. Fold in chocolate chips, reserve a few for sprinkling on top.

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Set aside to cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Remove bread from pan, invert onto rack and cool completely before slicing.  The loaf should come out easily with the parchment paper.

 

Nursing Bra Reviews – Cake Lingerie Toffee, Elle MacPherson Momamia & Maternelle and Le Mystere Sexy Mama & Florence

Something that every new mom has to go through is buying a nursing bra.  It’s one of those tasks that you can’t do prior to delivery since your breast size can change dramatically once your milk comes in.

I don’t have any fit photos to share, but I do have some thoughts on a few popular nursing bras that I tried on in store.  I went to my go-to place for buying bras, which is Nordstrom, since I wanted to get fitted.  Wearing the correct size is even more imperative since a too small nursing bra can cause painful clogged ducts which could lead to a mastitis infection.  You definitely want to avoid that at all costs!

I have heard some ladies that just pull their normal bra up to nurse, but I have no idea how that is even possible!  A nursing bra is an absolute essential for me, both for holding in a nursing pad and for being able to comfortable nurse in public.

Cake ‘Toffee’ Contour Nursing Bra
Cake ‘Toffee’ Nursing Bra ($64.00)

This is the bra I would recommend to all of my friends.  I love that it provides good coverage and lift.  I wear the wired version but there is also a non-wired version for ladies who are prone to blocked ducts.  The inside of the cups is also lined with a very pretty floral fabric.

The main downside I find with this bra is that because it provides such great coverage (using a lightly padded cup), it isn’t as easy to fold down as a thinner piece of fabric (like the Elle MacPherson bra below).  However, for me, coverage is of utmost importance so this was something I could live with.

Le Mystere ‘Sexy Mamma’
Le Mystere Sexy Mama Nursing Bra ($66)

This one was a close second to the Cake Lingerie bra.  I liked the support but I felt that the cups were a little harder to fold down than the ones on the Cake bra.

Elle MacPherson ‘Momamia’ 
Elle MacPherson ‘Momamia’ ($58.00)

I didn’t find that this bra provided enough support or coverage under clothing.  It really was no better than the Lamaze sleep bra that I use at night.  I felt like I couldn’t wear this in public at all.  On the plus side, because it is so thin, the cups fold down super easily.

Elle MacPherson ‘Maternelle’
Elle MacPherson Maternelle Nursing Bra ($55)

I found that this bra was very similar to the Momamia and so the same problems of coverage and support were present.  Additionally I felt like this compressed my chest into a giant uniboob.

Le Mystere ‘Florence’
Le Mystere Florence Nursing Bra ($56)

The fit on this one wasn’t bad but the fabric just made it look super frumpy.  I vastly preferred the Cake bra to this one.  Some reviews have also indicated that the fabric stretches over time and doesn’t provide as much support once its been worn for a few times.

I hope this post has been helpful in trying to decide which nursing bra to try on or order!  The fitters at Nordstrom are also fabulous so I’d recommend going in store to get fitted for your new size as well.