Coastal Interiors: Dining Room Edesign

September 15, 2015Anneke McConnell

Table / Chandelier / Napkin / Flatware / Plates / Chair / Rug

With the holiday season just around the corner, I have our lovely dining spaces on my mind. Our own dining area......well lack there of, has been a small project of mine I can't wait to share very soon. Just waiting on a backordered chandelier! #patience

I love putting together these edesign boards which I primarily share on Instagram under @coastalinteriors along with featured spaces of interior designers, bloggers, builders, etc. It's been a fun account to inspire others, but I inevitably get question after question about where items are from and understand that people may not prefer the liketoknow.it service. This is for you!

There are a ton of great sales going on right now for dining spaces to get ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings. I tend to keep things simple around my home and so that's what I share in my designs. This one above is a pretty basic concept, but just add some colorful recipes and fall-colored flowers and they will pair beautifully with the navy blue and warmth of the wood.

xo,

Anneke

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Make It Happen: 3+ Practical Tips To Take The Next Step

September 14, 2015Anneke McConnell

Hello friends! Be sure to follow along on Instagram and Pinterest for all the behind the scenes, not to mention my new FAVE app Periscope - you can find me at Coastal Collective Co.!

So, in a world seemingly obsessed with the concept of "hustling" to get ahead in life (whatever that means, right?), I've found it fascinating and outright liberating to experience that that is an outright lie. Some people may enjoy the hustle, but never really examine the cost of the game.

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After taking some much needed time away from blogging (previously at www.ThisThatandLife.com) where I was continually striving for more in really an aimless and unsustainable system, I'm EXCITED more than ever to come back with a smarter mindset AND share what I've learned along the way through this Make It Happen Series!

This is all about sharing tidbits and actionable steps for you as applies. We are all in different life stages, going through different ups and downs, so one tip may be the ONE you feel you need to focus on!

Are you on board? >>>> Let's dive in! [For more, join the conversation on Periscope at @coastalcollectiveco]

1. Something's Gotta Give:

It's not rocket science, but it is easy said than done. In order to make significant strides toward our goals, we have to be intentional about carving the time out to make it happen. Most of us are not sitting around with a ton of free time, so usually that means something that is not helping us accomplish our goals needs to either move aside temporarily, be decreased in our schedule, or eliminated all together.

Question: What comes to mind as something that is taking up a ton of your time, but is not bringing any value to your life or the lives of those you love? (i.e. - I don't prefer all the driving, but I'm still taking my kid's to sports practice).

2. Rethink Your Time:

Instead of trying to do a million things at once and hustle, hustle, hustle.

Instead of having a million tabs open on your computer at once.

Instead of trying to get dressed while you brush your teeth and listen to the news and, and, and alllllllll at once.

STOP.

Take a deep breath and know that you can accomplish more when you focus on less at one time. <<< tweet that!

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It seems counterintuitive, but I can attest that it works! Now I get it - we are all different. And yes, there are times when we need to pick up the pace and juggle more than a few things at once. But think of that one thing that you keep putting off that you really want to make happen in your life, but are waiting for whatever reason. By rethinking how you use your time, from working on a million things at once, to one or two things at once, you'd be surprised how quickly you can meet that goal of yours! (More on this soon)

3. Know That You Are Worth Your Dreams:

I think this can tend to sound cliche these days, but the reality of the feelings people have about their worth is higher than you may realize. I've been there personally and still struggle at times! I'm thankful for the people who have surrounded me in difficult times and believed in my potential when I didn't believe in it myself. They prayed for me. They checked in on me. They pushed me and were my cheerleader. If I can pass that along to anybody, it is time well spent. I know what it's like to have a dream and even a plan, and then procrastinate, self-sabotage, and ultimately feel like a failure. A little deep for this blog post, but just know that it's okay to make mistakes and it's okay to fail forward.

4. Bonus Tip: Mistakes are Learning Opportunities

This is a great phrase that our kiddo's 2nd Grade teacher would drill into the classroom...in a super sweet 2nd Grade teacher kind of way. ;-) I believe it has been foundational for our kids and a phrase we adopted as a family to remind each other that it's okay to make mistakes. It's okay to not have it all figured out. In order to make things happen in our lives, we are often learning, growing and trying new things. Learn and keep moving forward.

What do you think? What is ONE THING that you are going to commit to making happen in your life this week. That one thing that immediately pops into your head!! What is it? Think small! It's often those smaller actions that lead to BIG success!

xo,

Anneke

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Fall Fashion Sale: Sweaters, Boots, Bags and more! #mamastyle

July 29, 2015FashionAnneke McConnell

Hello friends! Be sure to follow along on Instagram and Pinterest for all the behind the scenes, not to mention my new FAVE app Periscope - you can find me at Coastal Collective Co.!

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is just about over and many items have been restocked including my #1 FAVE military jacket!! I love that it has a removable liner. You can see my first post about the sale HERE and my top picks for kid's with my little guest Annabelle (aka my daughter). It was so fun to work with her on those back to school outfit ideas!

Today's post is my wrap up of the sale and I'll be scoping about them later today or tomorrow if you have questions. Be sure to find me on Periscope to chat with me - it's SO fun live streaming with you guys! From home, fashion, diy, and life/biz tips, it's definitely my new fave place to hang on social media. :-)

Yes I am sharing this as #mamastyle because I am indeed a SAHM/WAHM or three kiddos. This blog highlights my style for dressing up or down - I hope you find it helpful as you are looking for inspiration!

One of my absolute favorites in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is this blouse! It is flow perfection, discounted under $30 and comes in multiple colors. I love them all and it is super versatile. I got this super affordable tote in black and cognac and it is roomy enough for the day to day mama/design/blogging tasks, but not super huge either. The half d'Orsay pointy toe pump leopard heels are all you need to make a simple outfit look seriously chic! They are pretty comfy with a lower heel, but they did run a little larger in size than I expected for me. And of course, the beautiful Kendra Scott necklace. This one is so pretty and dare I say functional?? It doesn't get in the way like the longer necklaces, isn't too large or too dainty and really goes with just about everything.

Ok you guys, THIS SWEATER is amazing and only $27 right now!!!! I got this in the olive color also and it is just SO comfy and chic and perfect for our fall/winters here in the Pacific Northwest. It definitely isn't one you need to size up and is made to be oversize. It looks great long as a tunic with leggings and knee high boots [I share my picks below], or the front tucked into your jeans and maybe some heels. Aren't these bootcut jeans awesome?! I shared another alternative below. It's fun to play around with different looks. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't, but you never know unless you try! Again we have the tote mentioned above in black. And the prettiest red suede pointy toe pumps. I have been on the lookout for some pretty red heels for awhile and these are a great color - not to bright, but not too dark either. I don't normally where wide shoes, but these do seem a bit snug in the toe box, so just be aware of that for fit. FYI, my husband approves. Lol ;-)

Anneke McConnell Coastal Collective Co. Fall Fashion

My other fave sweater was this one. It's not as "chunky" as the cowl neck one above (it's a v-neck) and the material is much lighter, great for layering and transitional from summer to fall. Layered with the navy blue scarf, it will be the perfect combo as the weather gets a little more chilly. I am preferring these black knee high boots since they are stiff leather, can be dressed up or down, have a really comfortable and supportive sole. Boot are BIG here in the Seattle area, and these are a great options. I've linked the other two boot I got below as well. The Lucky Brand is casual as comfy with a great pull on and go style. Great for those busy days of running around with the kiddos. The other pair are the Naturalizers which I like the side buckles for looks and curved back on the top of the boot. All these come in multiple colors and wide calf options - high fives to that!

My FAVE military jacket is THIS ONE - you guys. It's so awesome that it has this removable liner!! I was saying a prayer of thanks for air conditioning when I took these photos, because even then I was so hot. I'm pretty sure this will be one of my go to casual jackets this season and beyond! The olive color is perfect, it's durable long-lasting material, the zippers are smooth, and the length works great even for me at 5'3" tall.

Well this is about the best photo I have of this gorgeous leopard jacket at this time. Let's just say the hubby approves. Sometimes the best way to go from mama style to wifey style is by throwing on a chic pair of leopard anything. Lol Ok....moving on. :-)

I absolutely adore this long knit cardigan. It comes in multiple colors, but I love this deep merlot. It's the perfect color for fall and looks great on anyone! It seems to run a bit oversize as well, but I'd say just order it your true size. It is currently only $32 for the sale and perfect for layering.

Last but not least on my list of must haves are this warm and fashionable faux fur vest and essential floppy hat. There are both versatile and will carry you through the entire season. The vest does have hook closures just so you know, and I've shared some alternatives below as well as options to pair it with.

I'm pretty happy with what I was able to snag in the sale. Many items sold out right away, but if you check out the entire sale there are so many great items available! I'm sharing my other favorites below to give you an idea of what else is on sale and you can always go here to browse further. Enjoy the rest of your summer guys and happy fall shopping!

Oh!! And if this weren't enough amazingness, my one my faves for jewelry, BaubleBar, is having a 30% off sale stewed right now! Just be sure to use the code XMASINJULY! Everything from this major splurge to this beautiful steal.

Thanks for joining me for today's fashion post! Have a great day!

xo,

Anneke

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Coastal Collective Kids: Back to School Ideas

July 17, 2015FashionAnneke McConnell

Hello friends! With summer in full swing, it's hard to even think of back to school, but I made a deal. My oldest daughter approached me awhile back about starting her own business. Ahem.....you know.....like mommy? Lol ;-) After much persistence from her about this "business stuff", I asked her if she'd be interested in working with me on a kids segment for the new blog, to which she replied an enthusiastic YES!

With the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale in full swing, it was the perfect opportunity for her to share some ideas she had and get some back to school shopping done. These deals are crazy you guys! I picked a few ideas and said no to some others, but for the most part these are her own picks. She's not fussy about fashion, but she is particular about how she pairs things for certain occasions and not when she's not off playing on the beach or climbing trees. I'd like to introduce you to my beautiful, sweet, smart daughter Annabelle.

Yup! Holding our sweet little malitjpoo puppy Copper! I haven't even introduced him really, but he is turning out to be the absolutely sweetest pup ever with just a bit of sass and spunk - perfect for us!!

So today's post is focusing on back to school fashion and hopefully in a way that can help you choose pieces for your kiddos that will last and are transitional in between the seasons. We were looking for well fitting jeans [I'm SO impressed with the fit on these!], under tanks, warm cardigans for layering, comfortable booties, boots, and flats, and then I let Annabelle pick out one item on her own that was a really BIG deal to her. She feels so grown up - it's too cute. I hope you enjoy the outfits we've put together and future Coastal Collective Kids posts - if so, please share. It will make her day I'm sure!! Thanks!

There are so many great items to choose from for your kid's back to school clothes in this sale. Here are a handful of some other favorites we found. Jeans, sweaters, jackets, shoes, tops, you name it. Some of these we bought for my other daughter too!

Ok, and if there is ONE thing from this entire amazing sale that I could pick that you should get for your daughter, niece, mom, friend, sister, teacher, etc., it has got to be THIS necklace. I'm serious....stock up now for birthdays, Christmas, wedding showers, and more. It's the perfect mix between a statement necklace and a delicate necklace - just the right touch of sparkle! For under $40 during this sale, it's a beautiful steal.

My boxes of goodies from Nordstrom just arrived in the mail yesterday, so I'll be sharing more on sizing and whatnot in an upcoming post or two, but overall I'm super happy with what I was able to find. I will say that I tend to buy sweaters larger because I love the oversize fit, and almost every sweater I bought I ordered up a size and could have just ordered my regular size. I'm debating exchanging them so I hope they aren't sold out! Am I the only one who wears an XS to XL around here? Lol The fit of items is all personal in my opinion. ;-) I've link up my big girl, Pacific Northwest stay at home mom, work at home mom picks below - photos coming soon! Happy shopping you guys!!