Our Designer Lydia’s Perfect California Country Wedding

Lydia is our designer when she’s not acting and she’s like a little sister to me. I adore her style and couldn’t wait to see her wedding. She and her family did all the planning down to every detail and it did not disappoint. The chapel was a quaint little church on the top of a hill in Orange County, CA, and Lydia’s dad performed the ceremony which had everyone in tears.

Cute little church on a hill.

At the church they had iced tea and lemonade served in mason jars with paper straws for the guests and a guitarist playing under the tree as we arrived. The flower girls, Lydia’s nieces were dressed in the most amazing Lydia designed dresses that poofed just perfectly. She wore a Monique Lluillier gown and was absolutely gorgeous and a glowing bride. The men all wore bow ties and the ring bearers little plaid vests and ties.

I have to discuss the wedding gown a bit more. Not many people could wear this dress and look so perfect. As Ryam said it best, Lydia has couture boobs (meaning almost none.) She said her seamstress had to virtually remake the top of her gown but it was worth it. The result was stunning. Did I mention she wore her hair up in the ceremony and down for the reception. She had perfect wedding hair.

Bride and Groom Seats

The reception was at a country club and the tables were set up outside. There was a mix of wood with lace runners and round with white table clothes – each with beautiful antique golden roses and white china with gold trim. The kids had a wonderful green yard to play in and a kids table with quilts and banners.

The kids area

The cake was simple and lovely with two porcelain lovebirds on top. As favors her mother made 4 different types of homemade cookies with little goodie bags.

The Cake

First Dance

Time to boogie – that’s the groom int he Peter Pan hat…

There is Ryam – the Inspired Mama – and me in the cake room, stealing cookies.

Me and the Bride – Love her!

The ENK show in New York pulled me away way too early (2 hr drive home and 8am flight the next day) or I would have loved to have stayed and danced all night long. I am so happy for Lydia and Kevin (he’s adorable and simply amazing) that I get all warm and fuzzy feeling and emotional for them thinking of all the beautiful years they have ahead of them.

 

Have I mentioned I like layering? Have you heard about Coverumps yet?

You may be sick of me going on and on about my love of layering and my rule of three. Well, my mom’s rule of three – simply put – wear three things – with two you just aren’t finished.

Anyway, a few months ago an old acquaintance contacted me about her new business – Coverumps. I was instantly intriqued as I do like to cover my booty- literally and metaphorically. Most likely without ever seeing my skin color you could guess I was of European descent just from the rear view. Coverumps is just the bottom of the “shirt” that covers your rump without adding the bulk under your top. Genius.

This is me with the pink one. and below I’m wearing my leggings with the black one and Harlow is photobombing me!

I can’t wait to put it under sweaters – its very slimming to add that little bit of length over your hips when your shirt or sweaters hit at that wide spot.

Go to http://www.coverumps.com for more information! Thank me later!

Want to be a Right Bank Momma and throw a trunkshow?

After months, well actually years, of people asking us if they could have a trunk show we’ve decided now is that time! We are expanding the line into tween and updating the website and in want to move our current inventory and figured a great way to do that would be to offer it at a discount off of wholesale for our best fans – mom’s themselves!

Knit Rompers and Reversible Dresses

If you want to throw a trunk show we will put together an assortment of goods in a range of sizes for you and supply you with order forms.

Reversible Rompers….

If you are interested please email me ellen@rightbankbabies.com and we’ll send you some more information regarding pricing etc.

Cheers,
Ellen

Camping old school.

The family went camping this weekend in the Los Padres National Forest just outside of Ojai, CA. Before I had kids I was not a big fan of camping. But kids make it amazing – they love everything about it – the exploring, the tent, the ghost stories.

We drove up Saturday morning to Wheeler Gorge. Our campsite was right on this beautiful little creek and our immediate neighbors had 4 kids about the same age as ours.

Campsite #19 Wheeler Gorge

I’m fairly certain we packed everything in our house into our car before leaving but we still forgot chicken for dinner. So we had to go into town the first day to pick some up where we saw the aptly names Attitude Adjustment Shoppe.

At the swimming hole.

The first day we hiked the nature trail, played backgammon, made s’mores, then climbed in the tent and Poe read the story of Artemesia from the Daring Book for Girls.

Hiking through sage.

Saturday our friend Debra met us with her little girls (her husband was in Japan) so Poe helped her with her tent set up and then we had lunch at Boccali’s where they farm their own tomatoes. The girls spent hours and hours in the stream until it was absolutely freezing and we could get them to eat some hot dogs and put on their pj’s. We had more s’mores and told urban legend style ghost stories that freaked the girls out a little.

On Monday we had the best country fried steak breakfast I’ve ever had in Ojai and then antiqued (the girls each picked out some vintage sewing patterns they want to attempt) and visited a wonderful book store where the girls bought old Nancy Drew Mysteries.

At the top of the nature hike.

For next time we’ve decided to pack in bins as we were quite annoyed with having to move everything around all the time and felt very disorganized. We’ve also decided that seeking campsites without RV access might cut down on the late night partiers. I’ve also decided at some point I’d like to try “glamping” at one of the resorts. I feel it might have the best of both worlds for me – nature for the kids but a mattress for momma.

Back to school fashion!

In between getting facials, swimming and watching movies there was some back to school shopping happening while the girls visited their Grandmother in Memphis.

Some of my favorites came from Target (no surprise here) as I think they have some excellent mixing pieces. Evie picked an amazing checkerboard skirt with suspenders. They also got some great colored jeans that are comfy. Target had some angled hemmed tees and many sequin accents which are like crack for 7 and 8 year olds.

We bought some new Uggs ( I’m thinking these may never go out of style?). Silver Uggs and Purple and some AMAZING fringed boots from Steve Madden. Love those boots. We also found a wonderful knit sleeveless vest with hoodie on sale for nothing in a size 14 that is adorable on Evie. You sometimes have to ignore sizing especially in the sale racks!

Evie’s sequin hat (Target) and layered work out pants (also Target) make me very happy as well. Evie decided to layer the bike pants over the work out pants and personally I think its genius.

 

Some of our mixing pieces from our existing wardrobe: Right Bank Babies empire tanks , reversible skirts and smocked dresses. The girls can easily still wear the size 6x’s.

We’ve also been wearing some great things bought at Off Fifth outlet- cute tees and dresses.

Inspiration in Memphis

I grew up in Memphis, TN, but until you leave and return you really don’t appreciate it’s charm and beautiful architecture. I love the spanish in Los Angeles, but Memphis has done a great job of mixing Southern Plantation with French chateau, traditional and English Tudor.

Big Al’s (that’s Right Bank Momma’s momma) House

I enjoy wandering my mothers house which feels grand even though it’s quite compact compared to many of the enormous houses throughout Memphis. The neighborhood is secluded and lovely and the girls can roll around without fear of getting run over.

Big Al’s house and side yard

I love how she has upholstered the inside of the antique armoires. Another of my favorite inspirations are the oil paintings layered above the fireplace.

Picture on Picture

Upholstered Armoire with Spongebob playing

And the pool is barely more than a large water feature but my girls spent hours and hours in it daily.

Mini English Garden’s

It’s a wonderful little escape but Los Angeles beckons…

Right Bank Back to School Sale on Zulily!

Today through the 18th is a great time to get your back to school Right Bank clothes on Zulily. Our reversible smock dresses are perfect for layering and transition. The pieces can be worn now and throughout the year. Almost every day of preschool my daughter wore a different smock dress either on its own or layered over jeans or sweats or shorts or even a skirt. I love this dress over a sweatshirt hoodie with the hood hanging out the V in the back.

Smocks over skinnies!

I love this mix matched combo with the reversible skirt.

Right Bank colors and patterns are great because they are forgiving and washable. – Even when the tempura paint doesn’t come out most of the time it blends. Tip: You can find all different colored footless tights like above at Target for 1.99 each and they even come in neon.

Zulily’s styling

Found this photo in Dani Brubaker’s blog entitles “pissed” with the RBB Smock dress over our bubble skirt.

Busy Phillip’s adorable daughter with her flip flop frock over the tuxedo leggings.

Ali Landry’s daughter in her ruffle dress on the red carpet but it’s just as cute over jeans!

The Girls Hair Reveal! Ombre-Punk.

My girls went punk for back to school.

We finally finished the second of the two process hair color. It started with the bleaching. This alone was fun so the girls enjoyed their blond tips for a while (although Evie is already blond so it wasn’t much of a difference).

Yesterday they did the second process – more foils and these stayed in for over 2 hours just to make sure the color took. Patrice Perrone (302-463-4116 patriceperrone@gmail.com) is our stylist and she lives in our back house and will happily style from home so it’s fairly easy to color their hair and then let them run around. I highly recommend finding someone to come to your house or if you are in Los Angeles you can come to Patrice and enjoy backyard/trampoline while the kids process.

Harlow’s Purple Tips

Evie chose Green.

I’m going to do a little plug for Patrice while I have your attention. She does amazing hair. She works with Cush Salon in Beverly Hills or she will happily come to you (she calls this running with scissors). She charges $60 for the double process kids ombre color – this would involve bleaching the ends out first then coloring the ends with the color and its semi-permanent – meaning it doesn’t wash out, just fades over time. She warns you may find someone who will do it cheaper but they may not do the first process so the color may not stand out of hold very long. She can do less expensive variations as well.

Evie is all punked out for her play date.

Lets go! They are SO ready to show it off!

She also did my ombre color which I’m still in love with.

My side knot with my new ombre.

LA doesn’t Suck. (and maybe a fashion tip or 2 in there.)

At the flea market recently there was an artists booth entitled “LA doesn’t suck.” They wanted you to call a number with the red phone in the booth and leave a message about your favorite things about LA and the artist will compile them into an exhibit.

This got me thinking. I love Los Angeles. This is not a popular sentiment but I can’t help it. I love the craziness, the grittiness, the glamor and most of all the weather. I love that I can drive to the beach or a ski resort for the day. I love that I have a closet full of clothes that go with flip-flops. I love that I can see celebrities in the carpool line. (That really never gets old.)

One of my favorite things about Los Angeles’s weather is the ability to mix summer and winter pieces and really get creative. It lends itself to layering which if you’ve read this blog is a staple for me – I almost always wear 3 things. My daughter Evie typically wear 5-8 pieces but that’s a whole other story.

This brings me to my first Fashion Tip: Do you have any long sleeve t-shirts that just don’t fit right or you love and you stained? Well I recently stained my favorite striped knit tee so I took a pair of scissors and cropped it. Very short in the front and rounded down the back – it’s almost like a shrug now and is adorable over everything – adds sleeves when I need them. Tee shirt knits don’t fray so you don’t have to sew the edges and if it looks bad, well it was stained anyway. This is also cute for kiddos and for some reason kids LOVE cropped shirts.

My self cut cropped shirt at the San Diego Zoo.

I hope she lets me squeeze her forever. And the same cropped shirt over a silk tank at a pool party.[

[caption id="attachment_235" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Purple Teeth.(Just wanted to put this in cause its cute.)

Some serious competition for Cute! Ava Loves Olli!

I don’t usually blog about other brands but I’ll make an exception for Ava Loves Olli. They are having a sale on Zulily today and I recently saw some kids at school wearing these dresses and LOVE THEM!

Love the bow back dress and great fall colors.

I did a little research and the other ladies who blog about them have commented on how great the quality it and that they are made in the USA.

Apparently they withstand the ocean pretty well! Cute photos!

I think these dresses are perfect for the transition into school and wish they went a little bigger for my girls. I think they’d be SO cute paired with some striped leggings and a neon cardigan.

I want this with some black and white striped leggings and a little yellow cardigan.

They just look effortless and all cost around $20 on Zulily. I just went and “Favorited” them.

With some lace up boots or yellow wellies and a bright cardigan for back to school.

Found another cute Fall transition dress!

I think the photo above is this dress which is still on Zulily!

I can’t resist a peter pan collar! I want to put a cropped sweatshirt over that blue and white dress (cut the neck and waistband off a regular one) then add some bright tights or jeans.

Can’t even see the dress but love the photo.

I may have to order some and see if Evie can still fit a 6X. I’ll post photos….