A Thursday blog post must mean something special is going on. It is. It’s the eve of the very handsome Mr. Raiford’s 35th birthday, and I love celebrating his birthday. He’s the best person I know, and I have no shame celebrating him daily. He’s the kind of man you can’t help but love, and… Continue reading 35 Things You Don’t Know About My Husband (The Man Behind the Scenes of Every Instagram Photo and Blog Post) in Honor of His 35th Birthday
Happy Wednesday! This week has been one of those weeks I adore! Things are getting done, my productivity level is insane, and we have a super fun weekend ahead…all things I love! I haven’t done an IG roundup in a while, and I’m not entirely great at linking my OOTD pieces, so I’m bringing up… Continue reading Instagram Roundup: Winter (in Florida) Wear
I like Monday. I love the routine and schedule of a Monday. I love weekends, too; don’t get me wrong. I love the unstructured morning schedule of sleeping in, the fun we have, and the laidback-ness of it all, but I’m so schedule-oriented. I like Mondays because I love what I do, and I like… Continue reading The Benefits of Sweet, Slow Sundays: Quality Over Quantity
Every day is different, yet it’s remarkably the same in Raiford household. We run a tight ship with schedules and routines for ourselves and the kids. It’s helpful in keeping everyone on track (and me less crazy), and it’s taught our kids some amazing habits. They know to clean up after themselves because messes make… Continue reading 5 Daily Self-Care Habits that Make Life So Much Sweeter
The week is half over, and that means you’re either pumped for the weekend (all the raised hands over here) or beginning to feel frantically overwhelmed with all that’s left to do (all the raised hands over here). Take it or leave it, the weekend is right around the corner, and you can do what… Continue reading Back in Black: 5 Amazing Black Sweaters You Need This Season
{Photo: Her Creative Studio) If you follow me on Instastories, you may have noticed I posted a story last week of me sitting in my dining room with my laptop, iPad, and notes working away after being forced out of my home office in annoyance. In fact, I know you noticed because I receive so… Continue reading Working from Home: Answering FAQs About the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Happy Friday! Does everyone have amazing plans for the weekend? We’re doing the date night thing tomorrow night. My husband booked a sitter and he’s taking me to dinner, and then we are spending the rest of the weekend at Disney with the kids. It’s going to be COLD, but what a nice change from… Continue reading Friday Fifteen: Things You Didn’t Know About Me
We are always California dreamin’ in Casa Raiford. I spent a year living in Northern California when I was a teenager, and my husband and I just can’t get enough. It’s probably our favorite place (does it count if we also say that when we talk about that time we spent a week in Hawaii… Continue reading Orange County, California Travel Review
Happy Monday! I’m having a love/hate relationship with this day for a few reasons. It’s warming back up in Florida and I miss the really cold weather, but the kids will go back to spending all their time outside playing and we can open the doors and windows again…and I love that. The kids are… Continue reading Best Buys of The Holiday Season: 3 Classic New Favorites
If y’all haven’t already heard, we Floridians are having a little bit of a winter experience at the moment. There were schools cancelled (and I’m just over here like who are the lucky people whose kids are already back to school while mine are home for another week?), businesses shut down, people panicked, and some… Continue reading The Perfect Pop: You Need A Red Winter Coat
I love the New Year. I love looking back on where we were a year ago and how far we’ve come since, and I love seeing how much we’ve grown and accomplished. This year is no different. We’ve set our goals, we’ve made our peace with the most wonderful time of the year being over… Continue reading 5 Things I Let Go Of That Changed My Life
Happy 2018! It’s time to get #backtobasics in life. I’ve already shared how 2017 was such a phenomenal year of growth for us prioritizing our family, being more intentional with our time, and slowing down a bit to enjoy the little things. 2017 was a sweet, sweet year for our family. It’s hard to top,… Continue reading #BackToBasics in 2018 (And Happy New Year!)
2017 is over. Can you believe it? I swear the years go by faster every day. I’m still wrapping my mind around the fact that it was New Year 2017 just a minute ago and now we’re mere days away from ringing in 2018 with abandon. Anyone? Just me? No? 2017 was good to us.… Continue reading 2017: The Year of Quality Over Quantity
I shared a few of my own personal favorite stocking stuffers for the beloved ladies in your life on Monday, but what about the men in your life? Husbands, fathers, boyfriends, best friends, brothers, the mailman…hey, I don’t know what you do in your personal time. My husband loves when the items in his stocking… Continue reading Stocking Stuffers for Him Under $100
One. Week. And it’s the most wonderful time of the year; I love everything about this time of year, but I have one small complaint. I despise stockings. Nothing makes me crazier than “stuff,” and it seems everyone just fills stocking with “stuff,” just to fill them. You won’t find “stuff” in our stockings. You’ll… Continue reading Stocking Stuffers from Sephora Every Woman Will Love
Motivation isn’t easy to keep, y’all. This is a tough week, too. Thanksgiving is two days away, we all have things to do, people to see, activities to enjoy - kids home from school. But then there are people like me who take on a new client and a new contract at the beginning of… Continue reading Organized Chaos: Tips for Staying Motivated When You’re Just Not Feeling It
It’s Thanksgiving week, and that means it’s going to be a week filled with very grateful, thankful people – and there is nothing wrong with that. I do wish more people would focus more regularly on being thankful for all they don’t have rather than being upset by all they don’t; but that’s not really… Continue reading Thank You: Giving Thanks to the Men Who Helped Our Daughter When Our Worst Fear Came True
Listen, I can't stop myself. When I find something I love, I must have them all. Why do y'all think I have four kids? Maybe it's a sickness. Maybe it's genius. Maybe it's just me. Maybe it's all of us. I don't know. What I know is that when I find a piece of clothing… Continue reading The Tunic You Must Have in Every Color
Hello! It has been several weeks since I last posted OTB, and I apologize for taking such a long break…but it was much needed! I touched on it a bit on a recent #ootd post on IG, but we’ve been out of town four of the past five weekends. To sum it all up, we… Continue reading IG Roundup: What I’ve Been Wearing Lately
I have been so MIA lately…I know. This season of life is so busy for us! Between Hurricane Irma disrupting life for two weeks, a long weekend in New York City, birthdays, Gator Football, PTA-momming, and everything the fall season brings our way, I’m so busy I find myself unable to breathe some days. But… Continue reading Instagram Roundup: What I’ve Been Wearing Lately
Diamonds might be some woman’s best friend, but I prefer handbags. Of course, this really does surprise so many people since I rarely change out my handbag for anything other than date night. I’m a one bag at a time kind of woman, and I have my reasons. I’m a mom. I need the biggest… Continue reading The Do’s and Don’ts of Handbag Shopping: How to Make Sure Your Splurge Doesn’t Give You Buyer’s Remorse
Being a lifelong Floridian probably makes it a little ironic fall is my favorite season, but I like to be a little bit of a rebel. So what if it’s 96 degrees today? My front door is flanked with fresh mums (not yet dead from my lack of green thumb) and my house is… Continue reading Cozy Fall Moments With Wayfair: How I Bring Fall to Florida Year With My Decor Year After Year
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it’s true – but it’s really inside your personality. If you’re ugly on the inside, it won’t take people long to determine you’re ugly on the outside. Basically, you control your beauty and it starts from the inside (remember – sarcastic people who love to laugh and… Continue reading 34 Life Lessons to Live By For My 34th Birthday
{ Dress: Charles Henry (old) | Shoes: Manolo Blahnik (old) | Crossbody: Prada } People ask me all the time what I love most about my job. Is it working on my own schedule? Is it working from home? It is being my own boss? It’s Monday. I really love Monday. It’s a fresh start,… Continue reading Florals: Pretty Even in the Fall (And Always Gorgeous on Date Night)
{Before and After using Smile Brilliant's At-Home Whitening Trays} I have terrible vision. I’ve worn glasses/contacts since I was in middle school. It’s a family trait on my dad’s side of the family, but I can’t complain because along with horrible vision comes beautiful teeth. In my almost 34 years, the most my dentist has… Continue reading Professional At-Home Teeth Whitening with Real Results: How A Busy Mom of 4 Gets Pro Whitening Results On the Go {And a GIVEAWAY}
{#floridastrong Our sweet girl offered to sweep all the leaves and branches off the drive the morning after} Hurricane Irma. What a bitch. To say that we are exceptionally thankful right now is a gross understatement. We have a home We have no damage We have power We have one another The worst of the… Continue reading Surviving Hurricane Irma With A Grateful Heart
It turns out being a grown-up is entirely too overrated. I mean, honestly. You guys…we are facing some serious problems here in Florida. Serious problems – and this is a serious post. I know you want fashion and lifestyle tips and things like that, but this week things these seem a little less important than… Continue reading Difficult Decisions in Difficult Situations: Family First Always
Is anyone else keeping an eye on the tropics like it’s their job? As a lifelong Floridian, I’ve been so exceptionally blessed to have never been through a major storm. The worst was back in 2004 when we had three or four back-to-back hurricanes and tropical storms come our way. It pushed back the permit-pulling… Continue reading 3 Classic Ways to Style a Blazer for Instant Chic
Happy last day of August! {All photos of random things we've been up to in the past two weeks} I don’t know about you, but tomorrow officially begins fall in my house. It’s my favorite month of the year – and not just because it’s my birthday month. I’m turning 34 on the 30th, which… Continue reading Life Lately: An Update in the Midst of Busy
{The Marlowes: Short Sleeve and Boatneck} You guys…it’s finally here. The Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale runs from Monday, August 28 until Wednesday, August 30th. Three days of one of my favorite sales of the year. No – my absolute favorite sale of the year. With that I mind and only the weekend to prepare,… Continue reading Simple Tips for Shopping the Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale
{Dress: Essie by Lilly Pulitzer | Lipstick: Mod Pop by Clinique | Earrings: Sugarfix by Bauble Bar for Target | Sunglasses: Rayban | Bracelet: Chatelaine by David Yurman Friday, Friday, Friday... What kind of plans do you have this weekend? Ours is – as usual – busy. One day we will have a weekend that… Continue reading The One Classic Staple Dress Your Closet Needs for Under $100
It’s all in the details. I’ve said it before – I love classic pieces. 85% of my closet is staples and classic pieces that never go out of style, and about a quarter of those have a little bit of a twist because I love details. A classic wrap dress with fun pockets and a… Continue reading It’s All in the Details: One Dress You Can Wear Several Ways
{Dress | Shoes similar here | Sunglasses | Clutch similar here } Who doesn’t love a good maxi dress? I love them, but I go through phases. It seems that it’s always the beginning of spring and the end of summer. Almost like it’s my way of telling winter and summer it’s time to go.… Continue reading Maxi Madness
Better late than never, right? I promised this recipe post two days ago, but I’m slacking this week. Seriously, back to school is amazing, but being part of the PTA for the first time is really a learning curve for me. I didn’t realize how many man hours it takes. I’m enjoying it – I… Continue reading Healthy 5-Minute Edamame Recipe Perfect for Snacking or as A Side Dish
Happy Monday! There’s a saying about how if you love Mondays, you’re doing life right. I don’t know about all that…but I do love a Monday this time of year. The kids are back in school, and that means I have 6 – SIX – uninterrupted hours to work without anyone bickering, asking for a… Continue reading Back to Basics: 3 Classic White Shirts That Are Anything but Basic
You guys, today is the first day of back to school for our kids – and we are celebrating! Okay, so we took them to school, walked them to class, and ordered our favorite biscuits and gravy to go so we could come home and sit at our desks and eat them. But it’s quiet.… Continue reading The Casual LBD: The Perfect Way to Transition from Summer to Fall ( Or to Other Summer in Florida, anyway)
{Tunic: Lush here | Leggings: BP here | Shoes: Christian Louboutin So Kate here | Bag: Prada here | Earrings: Sugarfix by Bauble Bar here | Glasses: Yves Saint Laurent (Old) similar here} Happy Sunday, darlings! I hope everyone is having a gorgeous weekend filled with whatever it is that makes your heart happy. We’ve… Continue reading Last Day of the #Nsale & A Few Favorites You Don’t Want to Miss
August has me doing my happy dance (complete with zero rhythm and not a care). August, to me, is the almost-but-not-quite-but-so-close to the beginning of all the best things in life. The kids go back to school next week (Hallelujah!) It’s almost September – my birth month Gator football is just a few weeks away… Continue reading Summer Beauty Round-Up: New Favorites from Sephora
Happy Friday, darlings! It’s time for champagne, late nights, and fun in the sun. Kidding. It’s time for sippy cups and evenings in the pool and “New Baby Lasagna” night with our closest friends to welcome the newest babe to our little group. I promise there was a time we were much cooler. Fridays meant… Continue reading Friday Favorites: Summer Cocktails Perfect for the Weekend
My magic number is 5. 5 people live with me whom I love more than anyone in the world. 5 is the number of minutes I always white lie about when I’m getting ready/on my way/being rushed. 5 is the number of times I have to repeat myself before anyone even attempts to half listen… Continue reading 6 Simple Habits that Make Every Morning Better
34 That’s how old I’ll be on my birthday in September only nine weeks from now. I have no problem with 34. I look good, I feel good, I am good. But I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I have noticed major changes in my body/life/skin since my 33rd birthday almost a… Continue reading Summer Skincare: 3 Killer Masks Your Face Needs Right Now
I am not a chef. I can’t even cook. Seriously, last night I actually wreaked havoc in the kitchen when I stuck a pre-made Publix rotisserie chicken into the oven to warm up still inside its plastic container. I didn’t even know you couldn’t do that. In hindsight, yes, I do realize plastic and ovens… Continue reading Avocado Mango Salsa & Chicken Recipe: Under 5 Minutes and So Healthy
Happy Wednesday, darlings! I’m currently sitting poolside in Hawaii sipping cocktails with my love as we enjoy the sound of the ocean and one another’s company. Kidding. I’m currently running around like a madwoman trying to get my house ready for our house-sitters, the last details of our vacation handled, picking up snacks for the… Continue reading Travel Tips to Make Packing and Flying Easier With or Without Kids
Few things stress me out more than figuring out what to wear to the airport. First world problems, I know. Listen, I’m certainly not complaining about the traveling we get to do or minimizing any actual, real, valid life problems – I’m merely stating a simple fact. I have serious issues figuring out what to… Continue reading Keeping My Travel Style Simple Chic in the Airport
I’m in serious get sh*t done mode over here. It’s Monday, and I killed 23 articles, 10,200 words, a half-hour intense cardio workout at the gym with my handsome husband during lunch – and I spent 30 minutes sitting on the deck in my bikini working on a tan. Any color. Some color. Like, even… Continue reading Three Great Sales You Don’t Want to Miss Before They End
Sometimes you just want to make a statement. Sometimes that statement is a big one. Sometimes it’s a small one, and sometimes it’s just the icing on the cake. I love cake. When it comes to style, we all make our own personal statement. Mine is borderline lazy. I need to feel put-together and well-dressed,… Continue reading Friday Favorites: 4 Easy Ways to Make A Statement When You Have No Time
I have this serious thing with sarcasm, wit, and intelligence. A good mixture of all three really brings me such joy and entertainment, and I find it applies to every aspect of my life. I don’t particularly care to spend time with people who don’t appreciate all three – not that there’s anything wrong with… Continue reading Three Insanely Motivational Podcasts that Will Change Your Life
Happy Birthday, America! I don’t know about you guys, but I’m sitting here work, work, working away the day before the Fourth of July, and I have no complaints. The big girls are at a sleepover, the babies are at school, and I’m using this day as a chance to catch up, to work a… Continue reading In Need of Last Minute Fourth of July Inspiration? Here Are My Fourth of July Favorites
Happy Wednesday, you guys! It’s the middle of the week, the prettiest day, and my kids are being extra sweet today – so it’s a win over here. Hashtag winning. So last week I began a Why Not Wednesday series dedicated to trying new things, going outside my comfort zone, and really shaking things up… Continue reading Why Not Get to Know Me A Little Better: Here Are 20 Random Bits and Pieces of Me
Four kids + one business + a husband + a house + social life + children’s activities = One busy mama. I’m (hashtag) blessed, you guys. I married a man who doesn’t have a traditional view of “men and women” in the home. He’s the kind of guy who goes above and beyond for us… Continue reading Friday Favorites: The 5 Things I Do For Myself When I Need to Recharge My Soul
Tiffany Raiford 